A fortune guide, Francis Tse, attended the parade wearing a red outfi t
and long, black beard. Photos by Caroline Ourso
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COURIER LIFE, JAN. 31-FEB. 6, 2020 3
Moon struck!
BY ROSE ADAMS
Hundreds of locals marched
in Bensonhurst’s fi fth annual
Lunar New Year Parade
on Sunday, when they rang in
the Year of the Rat with colorful
costumes and traditional
dance.
“It was beautiful. Really successful,”
said Dr. Tim Law, the
founder of the Chinese-American
Social Services Center in
Bensonhurst, which hosted the
parade.
The festivities kicked off on
65th Street and Bay Parkway
with speeches by elected offi -
cials — including Congressman
Max Rose, Assemblyman
Peter Abate, and State Senator
Andrew Gounardes, among
others — who lauded the center
for organizing the parade and
for their services.
Later, parade-goers took off
from 65th Street and marched
down Bay Parkway to 80th
Street. Many attendees donned
traditional costumes, and one
group performed a Chinese
dance called the lion dance,
which mimics the movements
of a lion.
The parade also featured a
guide of fortune, who brought
good luck to the event’s attendees
— and said he very much
enjoyed the parade.
“It was good. I liked it,” said
Queens resident Francis Tse,
who said he performs the function
of the guide of fortune at
Lunar New Year celebrations
every year.
One attendee said that attendance
was a little lower than in
previous years because of the
simultaneous Lunar New Year
parade in Sunset Park, and
because many people stayed
home out of fear of contracting
the Coronavirus, which
has killed more than 80 people
in China as of Jan. 27. Still, he
said the parade was very fun,
and said he particularly enjoyed
the sense of community
that it fostered.
“It was a great event, as always,”
said fi refi ghter David
Lin, who attended the parade
with a group of fi refi ghters who
presented on fi re safety. “From
the start, it was the camaraderie.”
Lunar New Year Parade crosses Bensonhurst
The parade drew about 350 attendees to celebrate
the Chinese lunar new year.
Attendees gather with Francis Tse, the guide of fortune
(second from left).
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