The celebration to usher in the Year of the Ox is in full swing today in Chinatown.

On Hotel Street, near the state Capitol, people were getting ready for the start of the Night in Chinatown Parade.

Members of the Corvette Club were lining up with their cars, people were donning lion and dragon costumes, and red horns signifying the Year of the Ox, and members of martial arts clubs were practicing their stances and moves.

Spectators were lined up on benches and curbs waiting for the parade to begin.

Once under way, the parade will make its way down Hotel Street to Maunakea Street, which was jammed with people taking part in an all-day block party.

Rick and Staci Flournoy of Fort Worth, Texas, were among the people on hand at Alakea and Hotel streets.

They said driving around Honolulu makes them crazy, so they came early.

Rick Flournoy said they were anticipating a unique celebration.

"We're looking forward to it," he said. "There's no Chinatown in Fort Worth that we could ever find."