Leung's White Crane marks its 55th anniversary Sunday, Aug. 2, with a free public lion and dragon dance celebration at 705 Jackson St. in Chinatown, starting 11 a.m. — including a rarely performed "awakening" ceremony.

Leung's White Crane, one of North America's oldest and largest traditional Chinese martial arts schools, marks its 55th anniversary this morning with a free public celebration in Chinatown — Sunday, August 2, 11 a.m. to roughly 12:30 p.m., at 705 Jackson Street, between Grant Avenue and Stockton Street. No ticket, no RSVP; just show up.

The draw here isn't the parade alone — it's the opening. The troupe is performing a rarely staged traditional lion and dragon dance "awakening" ceremony, the eye-dotting ritual said to breathe life into a new lion before it dances. That happens at the top, so this is a get-there-for-11 event, not a wander-in-whenever one. Then comes the procession: dozens of lions and dragons, plus acrobatic high-pole "jong" dancers balancing on posts, with guest performers from international martial arts schools joining in.

Founded in 1971 by brothers Kuen, Kwan, and Allen Leung, the school has won seven national lion dance titles. This is its home turf.

The move: skip driving — Chinatown parking on a Sunday is a fool's errand, and Jackson Street will be packed. Take the Central Subway to Chinatown–Rose Pak Station (Stockton at Washington) and walk a block. Get there by 10:45 to catch the awakening ceremony, stake out a spot near the front, and you'll have seen the best of it well before lunch. Then you're already in Chinatown — go eat.