Image courtesy of Anthony Maw | Inside Vancouver Flickr Pool
One of the biggest cultural celebrations in Vancouver is kicking off this weekend to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the incoming year of the rooster. In 2017, Chinese New Year begins on January 28 and there are numerous events planned across the city to mark the occasion.
Many activities centre around Vancouver’s Chinatown, a vibrant hub of Chinese culture right in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. Whether you’d like to experience traditional music, food, or art, there’s an event ready for you! Check out some of Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Celebrations below:
Image courtesy of LunarFest Vancouver 2017
Vancouver LunarFest
First started in 2009, LunarFest is a celebration of the contemporary expression in Asian arts and cultures. LunarFest aims to collaborate with many Asian communities and outreaches to other Canadians.
In 2017, LunarFest will take place at both Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza and Oakridge Centre. The bulk of the event will be held at the QE Plaza and will include “Rooster Winter Games”, live music performances, dance, crafts, fortune telling, and much more.
Quick Details:
Date: Friday, Jan 27 – Sunday, Jan 29
Time: noon – 6:00pm at QE Plaza
Price: Free
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza (650 Hamilton Street)
More details: www.lunarfest.org
Image courtesy of TOTORORO.RORO | Inside Vancouver Flickr Pool
Year of the Rooster Temple Fair
On Sunday, January 29 celebrate the Year of the Rooster Temple Fair at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Chinatown. During the month of January and February, the garden will be featuring an interactive exhibition celebrating the lively stories and colourful symbols of Chinese New Year.
But, on Sunday Jan 29, the garden will feature a special “hot-and-noisy” Spring Festival to ring in the Year of the Rooster. You can expect arts and crafts, demonstrations of tai chi and traditional music and even participate in age-old traditions such as scaring away evil spirits with a lively lion dance and receiving lucky red envelopes from elders.
Quick Details:
Date: Sunday, Jan 29
Time: 10am – 4pm
Price: By donation
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza (650 Hamilton Street)
More details: www.vancouverchinesegarden.com
Chinese New Year Festival and Parade | Image courtesy of the Chinese Benevolent Association
Chinese New Year Parade
Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade will return for the 44th time on Sunday, January 29th, 2017. This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown will feature lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and much more. The parade will begin at 11am and wind its way from the Millennium Gate on Pender Street along Pender, onto Gore, west onto Keefer street, and ends at Abbott.
As one of the three largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, the parade will feature over 3,000 participants including the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations. It is not surprising that the parade draws over 100,000 spectators along the route each year, so make sure you get there early enough to grab a good viewing spot!
Quick Details:
Date: Sunday, Jan 29
Time: 11am – 4pm
Price: Free
Location: Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street)
More details: www.cbavancouver.ca
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