A marching band is a group in which instrumental musicians perform for entertainment, and prepare for a competition. Instrumentation typically includes brass instruments, woodwind instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Most marching bands wear some kind of uniform (often of a military style) that includes the school or organization's colors, name or symbol. [from wikipedia]

A dragon is a legendary creature, typically scaled or fire-spewing and with serpentine, reptilian or avian traits, that features in the myths of many cultures around world. The Chinese dragon, with counterparts in Japan (namely the Japanese dragon), Korea and other East Asian and South Asian countries. Most are depicted as serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence, and are quadrupeds (four legs and wingless). [from wikipedia]

A float is a decorated platform, either built on a vehicle like a truck or towed behind one, which is a component of many festive parades.Parade floats were first introduced in the Middle Ages when churches used pageant wagons as movable scenery for passion plays. Artisan guilds were responsible for building the pageant wagons for their specified craft. The wagons were pulled throughout the town, most notably during Corpus Christi in which up to 48 wagons were used, one for each play in the Corpus Christi cycle. [from wikipedia]

Chinese guardian lions or Imperial guardian lions, traditionally known in Chinese simply as Shi (literally: "lion"), and often called "Foo Dogs" in the West, are a common representation of the lion in imperial China. The concept which originated in China, subsequently spread to other parts of Asia. Since the introduction of the lion symbolism from Indian culture especially through Buddhist symbolism, statues of guardian lions have traditionally stood in front of Chinese Imperial palaces, Imperial tombs, government offices, temples, and the homes of government officials and the wealthy, from the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), and were believed to have powerful mythic protective benefits. [from wikipedia]

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is an annual event held in San Francisco and directed by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. Held for approximately two weeks following the first day of the Chinese New Year, it combines elements of the Chinese Lantern Festival with a typical American parade. First held in 1858, along what are today Grant Avenue and Kearny Street, it is the oldest and largest event of its kind outside of Asia, and the largest Asian cultural event in North America. The parade route begins on Market Street and terminates in Chinatown. [from wikipedia]