Around 18,000 people crowded the streets in Chicago's Chinatown on Sunday afternoon to watch the annual Chinese New Year Parade, with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot as a special guest.

The parade featured 68 units, including 13 floats, 28 marching groups, 9 marching bands as well as several lion and dragon dance teams. Several participants wore rat-style hats in celebration of the Spring Festival, which heralds in the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The year 2020 is the Year of the Rat on the lunar calendar.

Lauren White, a participant in the parade, told Xinhua it is cool wearing traditional Chinese clothes, watching vibrant lion and dragon dances in Chinatown during this special time.

Speaking at the celebration ceremony, Lori Lightfoot firstly congratulated Chinese community on Chinese Lunar New Year, then thanked Chinese community for their contribution to the development of Chicago city.