The Cathay International Chinese New Year Night Parade started at 8 pm on Tuesday in Hong Kong to celebrate the Year of the Horse. Crowds packed the streets, some arriving hours early to secure good views. Transport worker Clarence Lam and his family came two hours early to enjoy performances, especially hoping his son would see traditional dragon and lion dances. His wife Irene Tang said, “This is a rather large-scale festive celebration specially from Hong Kong … many Hongkongers are excited for the parade as well as the fireworks.” Mainland tourist Lu Ming, visiting Hong Kong for the first time, called the event "vibrant and bustling" and was happy to join the celebration. Swedish exchange students Tia Bjurling and Carolina Aasberg found the parade through Instagram and wanted to experience Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year for the first time. French insurance broker Nathalie Bluffer said she lined up overnight for tickets, excited to see the festivity in China for the first time. The parade, organized by the Hong Kong Tourism Board under the theme “Best Fortune World Party,” features 12 floats and nearly 60 performance groups from Hong Kong and overseas, including troupes from Australia, Italy, France, India, and Egypt. The procession moved from the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza along Canton, Haiphong, and Nathan Roads, ending at the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers. Among the floats are Hong Kong iconic landmarks, brand characters from McDonald's 50-year history, Disneyland, and Ocean Park. Highlights include Australia's Manly Seabirds cheerleaders, a Puning Yingge dance troupe from mainland China, and an Italian mechanical dinosaur paired with a dragon dance. Local talents like street dancers, jump-rope athletes, and wheelchair ballroom dancers also performed. Ahead of the parade, local groups warmed up crowds with lion dances, rope skipping, street dance, and magic shows. Tickets for stands sold out quickly, but the public can watch free along the route or via live streams. The celebrations continue with float displays at Kai Tak Sports Park on Wednesday, as well as citywide events including a fireworks show over Victoria Harbour, horse races, and football matches over the coming days.