The Year of the Pig begins on Sunday, and condom sales are super sluggish in China and South Korea. You can read that line again, but it’s not a non-sequitur. This Chinese New Year, the presiding pig sign brings especially good fortune to anyone born during its reign. As a result, lots of people are getting busy trying to make babies. And I mean lots: Many Chinese maternity hospitals are booked up for the rest of the year, and a population surge is expected across the country, according to CNN.

If this sounds like a compelling reason to learn more about Chinese culture, you need not dig a hole to China. The good news for those of us on a limited budget is that there are Lunar New Year celebrations taking place much closer to home.

When I first moved to San Francisco, my window overlooked a small Buddhist temple. The smell of incense and sound of chanting accompanied by bells always tipped me off that the New Year had begun. San Francisco has a large and thriving Chinese population, and the annual Chinese New Year Festival and Parade (scheduled for March 3) draws giant crowds comprised of all nationalities to witness a spectacular display of firecrackers (rumored to scare away evil spirits), dancing pigs and dragons, elaborately decorated floats, and intricately-sewn costumes. I’ve been in past years, and it’s fun to try and spot the city’s politicians in attendance, listen to the marching bands of participating local high schools, and see the frenzy of competition for the Miss Chinatown USA contest.

Check with your local government to see if any festivities are taking place in your hometown. Vancouver, Los Angeles, and New York, for example, are other North American cities that boast vibrant Chinatowns, where exotic delicacies line the local markets and you can find New Year traditions passed along from the Far East. It’s just a hunch, but if you’re inclined to look, I’ll bet you’ll see full prophylactics shelves in these neighborhoods, too.