San Francisco Celebrates the Chinese New Year of 2019

During the 2019 Chinese New Year Festival, San Francisco announced that it would continue a series of special New Year programme. During the New Year, San Francisco airport’s "Wag Brigade" team including piggy Lilou will dress up and celebrate the year of the pig with passengers.

Source: San Francisco Travel Association, San Francisco International Airport

On Feb. 23, 2019, San Francisco will welcome the Year of the Pig. Most Chinese New Year activities will be in Chinatown, the oldest and one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The parade will start on Market Street, snaking around downtown with the end of the parade route in the heart of Chinatown. Dragon dancing and Lion dancing will be shown in the parade. For more details, check out our handy guide to this year’s events in www.sftravel.com.

Lilou will also come to DFS at stores in San Francisco airport to greet travelers in Weibo live streaming show. DFS at stores will have special Chinese New Year promotions and a Fortune God handing out gold chocolate coins. They also have a Chinese New Year Snap and Share selfie photo station.

Source: San Francisco Travel Association, San Francisco International Airport

In napa valley, the famous wine-growing suburb of San Francisco, there are also exciting celebrations during the lunar New Year. The old winery Beringer, built in 1876, will organize a event of Chinese new year celebration year of pig. The journey starts in the 19th century historic cave tasting 4 Reserve wines perfectly paired with Chinese inspired culinary bites prepared by Executive Chief, and visitors can also enjoy the lion dance performance.

Source: San Francisco Travel Association, San Francisco International Airport

About Wag Brigade in SFO

On December 3, 2013, SFO launched a program, titled Wag Brigade, to bring trained dogs to the terminals to make passenger travel more enjoyable. The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) brought dogs certified through their Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) Program to roam the terminals. Carefully selected for their temperament and airport suitability, the animals wear vests that read “Pet Me!” which identify them.

Source: San Francisco Travel Association, San Francisco International Airport

Three years later, Lilou, a Juliana-breed pig joined the beloved Wag Brigade team. LiLou is the first certified Airport therapy pig. LiLou is four (4) years old. She is a teenager now and won't mature until she turn 5. LiLou was born in Michigan and a couple of months later moved to San Francisco to live California dream: young, beautiful, famous and fabulous!

Source: San Francisco Travel Association, San Francisco International Airport

Her red hoof polish ('hoof-dicure') has become her signature statement. She is a proud city pig that brings smiles and positivity everywhere she goes. LiLou is hypoallergenic and knows a lot of tricks too. She can greet you with her snout or a wave, thank you with her shake, perform with her toy piano and bow at the end. LiLou also likes to twirl and can stand up on her back hooves. She can run an “8” and push the ball with her snout. And above all, LiLou does it all with a pretty smile on her beautiful face while wagging her tail!

There are some interesting facts about Lilou:

1. What type of pig is LiLou?

LiLou is a Juliana Pig Breed.

2. How old is LiLou?

LiLou is four (4) years old.

Pigs have the intelligence of a 3-year old human.

She is a teenager now and won't mature until she turns 5. LiLou was born in Michigan and a couple of months later she moved to San Francisco to live California dream: young, beautiful, famous and fabulous!

3.How long has LiLou been with the Wag Brigade?

LiLou has been with the Wag Brigade for two years.

4. Will LiLou be doing anything special to celebrate Year of the Pig?

LiLou will be celebrating my marching in 2019 Year of the Pig Chinese New Year parade in San Francisco on Saturday, February 23rd.

The San Francisco Chinese New Year Festival and Parade is the largest celebration of its kind in the world, attracting over three million spectators and television viewers throughout the U.S., Canada, and Asia.

5. What are some of LiLou’s favorites (food, way to spend free time, thing to do at the airport, outfit, etc.)?

LiLou LOVES to eat in general. She keeps a very healthy diet of special pig feed, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil, and vitamins. When she smell something yummy, SHE WANTS IT! Sweet fruits are definitely her favorite. Cheerios and almonds are her special training treats.

LiLou enjoys new places and meeting new people, as it stimulates her natural curiosity and intelligence. When not busy with social life, she loves to sleep in her bed. She is very bonded to her family and loves to cuddle with her Mom. Her red hoof polish ('hoof-dicure') has become her signature statement.

6. Where does LiLou live?

LiLou lives in Nob Hill, one of San Francisco’s signature neighborhoods!

7. What other animals does LiLou enjoy hanging out with?

LiLou enjoys hanging out with her Wag Brigade teammates in her free time. They enjoy attending social events, birthday parties, and shopping dates! Also LiLou is cautiously curious when meeting other animals, too.

8. What is LiLou’s top travel tip?

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and be nice to your travel neighbors without "hogging" the entire armrest space. Above all, travel safe and responsibly!

9. If LiLou were to visit China, where would she go and what would she want to see?

Since LiLou hasn’t been to China yet, during her first trip, she would go see the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City in Beijing

10. What is LiLou’s wish for Year of the Pig?

LiLou wishes everyone a very healthy, happy, adventurous, and prosperous 2019 Year of the Pig! She wishes everyone to be kind and loving towards each other. And just like LiLou enjoy great food and company of wonderful humans or animals, and enjoy wonderful memorable events throughout the year! Have a 'pig-tastic' year!

LiLou wishes everyone a very healthy, happy, adventurous, and prosperous 2019 Year of the Pig!

Do you want to know more about Wag Brigade? Please visit www.flysfo.com/wagbrigade