There are dozens of events taking place across the city and Richmond to celebrate Lunar New Year designed to attract everyone from families to foodies.
And while the Lunar New Year is officially Feb. 16, some celebrations began as early as Feb. 7. Here’s a look at some of the family-friendly events still to come. For a complete list of events, or to schedule your own, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Richmond teamed up this year to create a website that offers one-stop planning. Visit lunarfestival.com.
Parade start: Millennium Gate on Pender Street
Feb. 18: 11 a.m.
This signature event features lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and more. This year’s parade will include about 70 entries, bringing together
more than 3,000 participants from various community and cultural groups. The multicultural dance troupes and participating groups represent the diverse segments of our Canadian cultural heritage, including the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands and various community groups. International Village
Chinese Heritage Village
88 West Pender Street
Feb. 16 and 17
Enjoy multicultural live performances and variety shows on stage, free lucky draws and an opening event complete with a lion dance and eye-dotting ceremony. Visit the festive Chinese Heritage Village on the upper level, where you’ll find colourful arts and crafts, demonstrations of folk life, culinary delights and special New Year snacks. Exhibition booths on both the main and upper levels include Chinese New Year festive items, souvenirs and gifts, traditional Chinese clothing, festive decorations and ethnic confectionaries and snacks. Admission is free.
Pinpin Restaurant
6113 Fraser St.
Feb. 17: 11 a.m. start
Join the opening ceremony of the Lion Dance Celebration at 11 a.m. at Pinpin before the parade begins at 11:45. Everyone is welcome to this free event.
Lion dance and more
3378 Wesbrook Mall
Feb. 17: 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Join Wesbrook Village in celebrating the Year of the Dog with a lion dance ceremony. Following the lion dance head over to the Wesbrook Community Centre for free cultural performances and activities for all ages.
300-3665 Kingsway St.
Feb. 24: 11 a.m.
Two lion dance teams will parade along Kingsway between Boundary Road and Rupurt Street and down Joyce to celebrate the Lunar New Year starting at 11 a.m. and concluding at 1 p.m. at the Joyce/Collingwood SkyTrain station.
Flyover Canada
201-999 Canada Place
Until Feb. 18
Flight of the Dragon is back at FlyOver Canada and guests will first follow a mythical dragon as they soar over some of China’s most spectacular landscapes and scenery — including the Great Wall, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the city of Shanghai and more. They’ll then take off again to experience FlyOver Canada, an exhilarating journey across Canada. Visit flyovercanada.com.
Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza
750 Hornby Street
Feb. 24 and 25
Your four-legged friends are invited to take part in Year of the Dog celebrations outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. Have your photo taken with Canadog — the giant space husky, pick up some new toys and trinkets for your walking buddy, make an impromptu play-date with new canine friends and chow down on delicious Lunar New Year foods.
Vancouver Public Library
Multiple branches
Feb. 16 and 17
Granville Island Public Market
Feb. 17
Granville Island is celebrating the Lunar New Year with a traditional lion dance parade starting at 10:30 a.m. in the public market. Follow the lion dancers as they travel to the Net Loft, Creekhouse and Railspur Alley. Take in sugar painting demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. during which an artist creates two or three dimensional figures using a traditional Chinese form of folk art using hot, liquid sugar.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St.
Feb. 23 to 24
Experience an authentic Chinese lantern festival in Vancouver’s classical Chinese garden. The dazzling display of handmade lanterns showcases various Chinese legends, adding spark to the Year of the Dog celebration. Enjoy live performances and participate in various activities, including classic lantern riddles and Chinese sugar painting. Don’t forget to warm up with some festive nibbles and beverages at the food market.
Lion dance and eye dotting ceremony
CF Pacific Centre
701 W Georgia St.: in the rotunda
Feb 17: 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Activities
- Eye dotting ceremony
- Lion dance and Choy Cheng
- Guest Services reps will hand out lucky red pockets with chocolate coin to retailers and shoppers
Lion dance and activities
CF Richmond Centre
6551 No 3 Rd: in main galleria
Feb 18: 12 to 4 p.m.
Activities:
- Lion Dance and Choy Cheng
- Eye dotting ceremony
- God of Fortune will hand out lucky red pockets with chocolate coin to shoppers
@sthomas10
