From food to dance to music to dragons to lions, no matter what your preference is there's a Lunar New Year event for that.
Jan. 28: 6 p.m.
Spring Festival fundraising gala
Parq Vancouver: Grand Ballroom
This gala fundraising event is produced by Charlie Huang, owner of Vancouver’s Peaceful Restaurant, and is in support of B.C. Children’s Hospital’s Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children Enhancement Initiative. Thousands of families from across the province visit Sunny Hill each year, seeking assessments, diagnoses and rehabilitation for a wide range of conditions affecting their child’s development.
Sunnyhill is the only children’s rehabilitation facility of its kind in B.C. The evening includes beautiful culinary creations, show-stopping food-carving demonstrations by renowned Chinese chefs, live dance and musical performances, and a live auction.
Feb. 8 to 10
Chinese New Year celebration
International Village Mall's celebration gives Vancouverites an opportunity to experience traditional Chinese spring festivities and rituals with exhibition and sales booths on both the main and upper mall levels.
Drop by for Chinese New Year festive items, souvenirs, culinary delights, giftware, multicultural live performances, a lucky draw and more. This three-day event includes an opening celebration with a ceremonial lion dance.
Feb 10
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Open to the public by suggested donation of $5
This annual temple fair celebration returns in 2019 to usher in the Year of the Pig. The twelfth animal in the Chinese zodiac, the pig is a symbol of prosperity, its rotund cheeks full of good fortune.
Everyone is invited to this family-friendly event, where they can enjoy a lineup of traditional activities, explore the wares of local vendors, and take in the 淑芳你好嘛 (Suk-Fong Nay Ho Mah) / Suk-Fong, How Are You? exhibition from artist Paul Wong.
Now through Feb. 24
It’s the beauty of China as seen from above — Flight of the Dragon is back at FlyOver Canada for a limited time. During this special feature, follow a mythical dragon as it soars over some of China’s most spectacular landscapes and scenery — Including the Great Wall of China, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, the city of Shanghai and more. Then, take off again to experience FlyOver Canada, an exhilarating journey from east-to-west across Canada. Two rides back-to-back for one price. Visit flyovercanada.com.
Jan. 30 to Feb. 18
Jack Poole Plaza
Eight gigantic and iconic lanterns designed by Musqueam, Squamish and Tslei-Waututh artists and a guest indigenous artist from the Zihing tribe in Taiwan, will be raised to ring in the Year of the Pig at Jack Poole Plaza. Produced in partnership with Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Convention Centre.
Feb. 3
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
As part of Year of the Pig celebrations, Vancouver’s own renowned choreographer Joshua Beamish brings alive a 1,700-year-old Chinese love story in the New Butterfly Lovers. The brand new full-length contemporary ballet will also premiere new arrangements by Dan Reyes and Coastal City Ballet for one-show-only.
Feb. 4
Live countdown shows to Chinese New Year of the Pig 2019
There will be two live variety stage shows presented by Fairchild Radio and Television featuring cultural performances by winners of the Miss Chinese Vancouver Pageant, music, dance, fortune telling, giveaways and more. There will also be a live broadcasted countdown to the Chinese New Year of the Pig.
Feb. 5
Parq Vancouver
Watch age-old traditions come to life at Parq Casino. A lion dance will kick off the festivities Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. while luminous lanterns, vibrant cherry blossom trees and hanging silk wisteria with magnolia adorn many of the other corners of Parq Vancouver. An embellished pop-up photo lounge and life-size zodiac calendars will make an appearance for guests to capture the magic.
sthomas@vancourier.com
@sthomas10
