Chinese New Year Featured in
The Lunar New Year is celebrated in Vancouver with lion dances, colorful parades, vibrant street fairs, and the Lunar Fest, a massive cultural event. Celebrations start at Vancouver's historic Chinatown with the annual Chinese New Year Parade which has been held by the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver since 1979. Every year it draws over 50,000 people. 3,000 dancers, musicians, and performers take part in the procession, known for its largest lion dance team in Canada. The procession marches down West Pender under the Chinatown Millennium gate, then it goes up Gore Street and then returns to Keefer.
The parade is followed by the Spring Festival & Cultural Fair at Sun Yat-sen Plaza in Chinatown. You may also want to stop by at Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden that holds an annual Lanterns display festival. Chinatown's International Village shopping center at 88 West Pender Street is visited by 150,000 during the three days of Lunar New Year festivities. It features live performances, dance, and children's activities.
Many ethnic Chinese go to have a New Year Banquet at Chinatown restaurants that include live entertainment.
