Uptown's Argyle Street Rings in the Year of the Horse with Its Biggest Lunar New Year Parade Yet

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Uptown · February 26, 2026

Uptown's beloved Argyle Street corridor erupted in color, music, and community pride last Saturday as thousands of neighbors and visitors turned out for the neighborhood's annual Lunar New Year celebration — this year marking the Year of the Horse. The festive tradition, now more than 40 years strong, drew one of its largest crowds in recent memory, filling the streets with the sights and sounds of one of Chicago's most vibrant cultural gatherings.

Lion dancers led the parade down Argyle, with the Chinese Senior Association organizing performers, costumes, and live music for the march. Before the parade, families gathered at the Bezazian Library, where children decorated paper horse heads and listened to Lunar New Year-themed stories, giving the youngest neighbors a hands-on connection to the holiday's rich traditions. And the celebration wasn't just cultural — it was a meaningful economic boost for the corridor, with nearly every Asian-owned business along Argyle buzzing with customers all day. Lines stretched out the door at neighborhood staples like Chiu Quon Bakery, a testament to how the event uplifts the community on multiple levels.

Whether you caught the parade or missed it this year, the Asia on Argyle corridor is open and thriving year-round. Make it a point to explore the restaurants, bakeries, and shops that make this stretch of Uptown truly one of a kind — and mark your calendar for next February's celebration!

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/02/21/lunar-new-year-parade-argyle-uptown/
2. https://herald-review.com/news/state-regional/article_4ed544cd-a44b-5b40-ace3-31823cba9b83.html