Scenes from the annual Lunar New Year parade in Sunset Park

Gong hei fat choy! Brooklynites old and new ushered in the Year of the Dragon and wished each other luck

A cloud of smoke hovered over Eighth Avenue in Sunset Park, streets littered with bright pink flower petal confetti. Hundreds of people, many dressed in their finest traditional Chinese outfits, floated up and down the avenue amid the constant pop of fireworks overhead. They greeted each other with joyful salutations of “loong nian da ji,” or “I wish you the best of luck in the Year of Dragon.”

They rolled out hundreds of yards of firecrackers, loud enough to make many people stick their fingers in their ears. Further down the street, a pair of giant lion costumes slowly made their way forward, bobbing and weaving much to the children’s delight, who were lifted up by parents and grandparents so they could get to touch a piece of their magical fur — or even luckier, put a red envelope in its mouth.

Photo by Stephanie Keith

The lions briefly stopped at a store to share a blessing and then proceed to 50th Street where the Brooklyn Chinese- American Association, which has sponsored the Lunar New Year’s parade every year since 1988, had set up a stage to welcome elected officials and host performances.

“We really do appreciate it because they have so many programs, taking good care of the kids and families and preserving our traditions,” said Nicole Mann, aide to New York State Senator Iwen Chu.

Photo by Stephanie Keith

The idea of preserving traditions was a constant refrain for many in attendance. Qiqi Dong, 27, a pre-school teacher and resident of Sunset Park who was born in China and immigrated in 2012, was wearing a traditional garment called a Hanfu. “Many modern people today wear traditional clothing in an effort to preserve the traditions of China,” she said. “I only wear this on special occasions.”

This year being the Year of the Dragon — the fifth of a series of 12 different animals represented in the Chinese zodiac — the beast of honor did not disappoint. Once speeches wrapped on the main stage, Manhattan’s Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute performed the traditional Dragon Dance as it walked the 10 blocks down Eighth Avenue that constitute the heart of Brooklyn’s Chinatown. The bright red dragon was held aloft by 20 performers who moved in unison following the dragon pearl, an ornate ball that leads and taunts it. People would stop the fireworks just long enough to let the dragon soar above the delighted crowd.

Photo by Stephanie Keith

“It’s about how Chinese people in a foreign country are celebrating their traditional holidays and it’s more like remembering how they used to celebrate in China,” said Alan Zheng, 42, a salesperson who lives and works in Sunset Park. “It’s more of a family reunion. So, no one will miss a Chinese New Year. All the family members will get together from no matter where they are they will gather around the feast table.”

Here are a few more scenes from the day of celebration.