Historic photos of windows smashed by white rioters in 1907 and the Chinese Freemasons building, which still stands today at West Pender and Carrall streets, will be highlighted as part of Chinatown's 125th anniversary.

But it's not past tensions the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society, which organizes the festivities, hopes to emphasize. Instead, it aims to welcome young people from all backgrounds to Chinatown Aug. 14 and 15 with the event-themed "leap from a proud heritage."

Last year's street festival featured a breakdancing competition. Visitors to this year's nighttime party are encouraged to dress as school boys and school girls to receive a free lollipop and compete in a costume contest. "This is to attract a younger crowd," said Albert Fok, president of the Chinatown BIA. "We have a proud heritage, we are a heritage community, but we are ready for new ideas and we welcome new ideas."

Streetfest, which runs Aug. 14 from 6 to 10 p.m., will feature DJ Downlove, DJ Kamikaze and DJ Skinnydoh, alongside booths, games and carnival foods. The Youth Talent Show, Dance Edition, Aug. 15 from 3:30 to 6 p.m., will feature youth aged 13 to 23 competing for cash and travel prizes. "Previous winners of the competition, primarily, they're not of Chinese origin," Fok said.

Instead of presenting the photo exhibit, which includes shots dating from 1885 when Chinatown was founded to the present day at the Chinese Cultural Centre, the photos will be displayed at the offices of Building Opportunities with Business, or BOB, at 163 East Pender St. "We want to send a very clear message that this is new Chinatown. Not everything has to be traditional and not everything has to involve a Chinese entity," Fok said.

"We are witnessing young people in their 20s who want to rediscover their roots, and we're also seeing younger people, those who are not of ethnic Asian origin, taking great interest in our community," he added. "I would like to see more participation and these people are future leaders in the making."

The festivities will also show off luxury cars. "Last year was the Year of the Bull so we picked Lamborghinis because of the logo, Lamborghini has a bull," Fok said. "This year, the Year of the Tiger, there's no car that has a tiger on it, but Jaguars are close enough."

Chinatown's new artistically minded panda mascot, temporarily named Muse, will greet the community for the first time at the celebrations. An online naming contest for Muse continues until Aug. 20.

The Keefer Triangle at Columbia Street will be the core of festivities which run noon to 6 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15. For more information, see www.vancouver-chinatown.com.

crossi@vancourier.com