One of the many wondrous sites at the Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in San Francisco.
Aug 23, 2013 —
America is a nation of immigrants. The stars and stripes represent thousands of different customs and traditions that blend together to make U.S. culture a colorful canvass.
Diversity is undeniably one of the country’s strong points. Americans have a rare ability to celebrate the nationalities of their ancestors while staying true to the red, white, and blue. This affords citizens ample opportunity to celebrate national pride throughout the year – whether it’s American or not.
Appropriately home to a professional basketball team named the Celtics, Beantown busts out the party for the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade every March. Green is the color of choice for parade marchers, spectators, and celebrants in Southie as Irish culture is championed on the streets and in bars on March 17.
Meanwhile, February in San Francisco welcomes the Chinese New Year Parade & Festival and other cool San Francisco activities. First held in 1858, this long-standing, fiery tradition introduces Miss Chinatown USA to the public and boasts a 200-foot golden dragon manned by more than 100 puppeteers.
Though dragon-less, the New York Greek Independence Day Parade draws 150,000 spectators and 25,000 participants each April. Dubbed the largest parade in the Hellenic diaspora, this Greco-get-together is full of traditional music, dance, and grub.
No matter what name they gave your great-great-great grandpa at Ellis Island, you’re entitled to party year-round with whomever you want. After all, it’s a free country.
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Cultural Festival
Every year in October
Out of all the cities in the world, the Greater Los Angeles area has the biggest population of Koreans outside of Korea. That’s why Angelenos have access to the most authentic Korean food and culture in America. In celebration of the contributions that Koreans have made to the city, Seoul International Park welcomes anyone interested in Korean food
Los Angeles
Seoul International Park
3250 San Marino Street
Los Angeles, CA 90006
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Parade
Every year in June
Since 1958, New York has celebrated Puerto Rican culture and millions of Puerto Rican Americans and Nuyoricans with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Held on a day in June, the parade extends along Fifth Avenue from 44th Street to 79th Street and attracts massive crowds that number in the millions with colorful floats, dancers, and the
New York
5th Avenue and 44th Street
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Holiday Event / Parade / Party
Every year in March
In the films Good Will Hunting, The Town, and The Departed, Boston’s Irish neighborhoods play important characters as critical to the stories as Will Hunting, Doug MacRay, and Frank Costello. Sure, these movies are only based on fact, but their depictions of the Irish community in Boston hint at how important the subculture is to the city as
Boston
Throughout the city
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Cultural Festival / Parade / Community Event
Every year in April
When April rolls around, many St. Patrick’s Day partiers might be upset that their favorite holiday season has expired. However, every year on April 6th, New Yorkers head to the National Tartan Day Parade for an equally fun time to celebrate Scottish heritage.
The National Tartan Day Parade draws thousands of Scots and Big Apple
New York
Throughout the city
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Cultural Festival / Parade / Street Fair
Every Year in February
In San Francisco, Chinese-Americans make up 21.4% of the population, which checks in at the highest percentage of any city in the United States. Chinese culture has been preserved and shared in The City by the Bay since Chinese immigrant laborers worked to build the town’s railroad in the 19th century.
The San Francisco Chinese
San Francisco
Throughout the city
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Arts Festival / Festival / Parade
Every year in April
The New York Greek Independence Day Parade has been held annually along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue since 1951. The parade itself first took place in NYC in 1938.
The event celebrates Hellenic culture and marks the anniversary of Greek independence, which was declared March 25, 1821. The parade attracts some 150,000 spectators, with
New York
Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue between 48th and 59th Streets
New York, NY 10022
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Cultural Festival / Food & Drink Event
Every Summer
Every summer in Alexandria, VA, hundreds of DC denizens from the vibrant Vietnamese community flock to the festive VietFest. Held at Landmark Hall, the 2013 VietFest is a two-day celebration of Vietnamese culture in all its forms.
The 2013 VietFest showcases the many talents of the Vietnamese community with a bunch of
Washington, DC
Landmark Mall (Alexandria, VA)
5801 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
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Cultural Festival / Music Festival / Dance Festival
Every year in July
St. Patrick’s Day is a big deal in Chicago. Come July, Irish-Americans and partiers in Chicago looking to recapture some of the March magic head to the eclectic and electric Irish American Heritage Festival.
The 2013 Irish American Heritage Festival boasts traditional Irish food, drink, and live music. The fest features more than
Chicago
Irish American Heritage Center
4646 North Knox Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
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Festival / Special Event / Holiday Event
Every year in May
Many people might find it surprising that Cinco de Mayo isn’t a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day. That actually happens in September. Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated during the American Civil War by a group of Mexican-Americans and Latinos who wanted to dedicate the day to Mexican culture and heritage.
Over the years,
Washington, DC
The National Mall
Between Independence Avenue and
Constitution Avenue from the Capitol
to the Lincoln Memorial
Washington, DC 20560
Visitor Information: 202–426–6841; Park Headquarters: 202–485–9880
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Cultural Festival
Once a year
Chicago is a perfect microcosm of the melting pot that is America. Every May in the Second City, hundreds of Chicagoans celebrate one of the many heritages that make up the city’s population at the Chicago Turkish Festival.
The Chicago Turkish Festival features various dance, music, and art performances, and, of course, gourmet
Chicago
Throughout the city
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