Chinese New Year 2020 is Saturday, January 25 and this is the Year of the Rat. From mall celebrations to restaurants, parades and temples, find out where to celebrate Chinese New Year in Metro Vancouver in 2020 below.
This list is updated as information becomes available. If you have an event/business that wants to be added, please contact me at [email protected].
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What’s On This Page
- Mall Celebrations in Metro Vancouver 2020
- Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade 2020
- Cultural/Arts Celebrations
- Restaurants with Special Chinese New Year Menus 2020
- Stress-Free Hosting by Getting Party Platters 2020
- Chinese New Year Gift Ideas 2020
- What to Eat During Chinese New Year
1. Mall Celebrations in Metro Vancouver 2020
Aberdeen Centre
- Dates:
- January 18, 2020 – January 26, 2020: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm (Flower & Gift Fair)
- January 24, 2020: 8:30 pm – 12:10 am (Live countdown)
- 8:30 pm – 10 pm: Fairchild Radio Pre-Countdown Stage Show
- 10:30 pm: Personal Blessings from the Chinese God of Fortune
- 10:30 pm – 12:10 am: Live Countdown with Fairchild Television
- January 25, 2020 : 11 am – 1 pm (Aberdeen Centre’s Golden Dragon and Lion Dance + Chinese New Year Cultural Spectacle)
- 11 am: Outdoor Courtyard
- 12:15 pm onwards: Store-to-Store Pick the Green
- 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm BC Chinese Music Association
- 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Vancouver Academy of Dance
- January 26, 2020: 1 pm – 4:15 pm (Chinese New Year Cultural Spectacle)
- 1 pm – 2 pm Colors of Dance Academy
- 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Cindy Yang Dance Academy
- Location: 151 Hazelbridge Way, Richmond, BC
- Highlights:
- Flower & Gift Fair, featuring vendors selling including gifts, decorations, fresh flowers, crafts, food, home goods and more
- Free photos with the Chinese God of Fortune
- Live broadcasted countdown
- Lion dance
- Colourful dance shows
- Website: aberdeencentre.com
International Village Mall
- Dates: January 24 & 25, 2020: 11:00am – 8:00pm
- Location: 88 Pender Street West, Vancouver, BC
- Highlights:
- Exhibition booths on both Main Level and Upper Level, showcasing Chinese New Year festive items, souvenirs and gift wares
- Festive Chinese Heritage Village and Photo Booths on Upper Level, bringing forth the intangible colourful heritage of arts and crafts, cultural aspects of folk lives, as well as the tangible culinary delights and snacks of Chinese New Year
- Children Art Festival on Upper Level with paintings exhibition by young artists from different ethnic origins
- Multi-cultural live performances and variety shows on stage, greeting you Happy Chinese New Year in the air
- Free Giveaway and Souvenirs
- Opening Ceremony with Eye-Dotting Ceremony, God of Fortune, Lion Dance and dignitaries greeting you “Kung Hey Fat Choy”
- Website: internationalvillagemall.ca/pages/cny2019-home.php
Aberdeen Square
- Dates: January 11 – 18, 2020
- Location: 4000 No. 3 Road, Richmond, BC
- Highlights:
- Co-hosted by Aberdeen Square & Mooby Yoho E-commerce Website, the carnival will feature typical cultural performances and authentic food.
- Website: www.facebook.com/events/3492807340759998/
Richmond Centre
- Dates: January 26, 2020
- Location: 6551 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC
- Highlights:
- Taking place at the Main Galleria behind Guest Services, there will be a Lion Dance Ceremony with the God of Fortune
- Website: www.visitrichmondbc.com/event/lunar-new-year-celebration-at-cf-richmond-centre/4779/
Yaohan Centre
- Dates: TBD
- Location: 3700 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC
- Highlights:
- Website: yaohancentre.com
Lansdowne Centre
- Date: January 26, 2020: 12:30 pm – 5 pm
- Location: Lansdowne Centre, 5300 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC
- Highlights:
- The 2020 RCCS TD Lunar New Year Celebration at Lansdowne Centre features family fun including the Opening Ceremony, Lion Dance, traditional and modern live entertainment, martial arts demonstrations, give-aways and community booths.
- Website: lansdowne-centre.com
Granville Island
- Dates: TBD
- Location: Granville Island, Vancouver, BC
- Highlights:
- TBD
- Facebook: TBD
Lonsdale Quay Market
- Date: Sunday, February 1, 2020
- Location: 123 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver, BC
- Highlights: Expect to see Jessica Yue, a traditional fan dancer, Lion dancers, a Fortune God and balloon twisters.
- Detailed Schedule:
- 2:30 pm – Jessica Yue (dancer)
- 3:45 pm – Lion dancers & Fortune God
- Balloon Twisters *for a small fee
- Detailed Schedule:
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/585121368615918/
River Rock Casino Resort
- Date: January 25, 2020
- Location: 8811 River Road, Richmond, BC
- Highlights: Traditional dances and ceremonies planned throughout the Lunar New Year, which you can see throughout the resort.
- Detailed Schedule:
- 5:45 pm – Dragon Rance
- 6 pm – Lion Dance
- 6:15 pm – Blessing Ceremony
- Detailed Schedule:
- Website: riverrock.com/promotion/lunar-new-year/
2. Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade 2020
- Date: January 26, 2020: 11 am
- Location: Vancouver Chinatown: The 1.3-km long route starts at the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), proceeds east along Pender Street, turns south onto Gore Street, turns west onto Keefer Street and then disperses on Keefer at Abbott. Click for the map here.
- Highlights:
This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown will feature lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and much more. - Website: cbavancouver.ca
3. Cultural/Arts Celebrations
Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival – Cultural Fair
Date: January 25 & 26: 2 pm – 4 pm
This fair will feature multicultural performances, special lion dance grand finale, martial arts demonstration and more. To be held at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza.
Location: 50 East Pender Street, Vancouver, BC
International Buddhist Temple
Date: January 24, 2020: 10 am – 12 am
At the International Buddhist Temple, many visitors stop by on Chinese New Year’s Eve to pray for a prosperous year ahead. They are open from 10 am but the excitement increases as the countdown begins from 10:30 pm onwards.
Location: 160 Steveston Hwy., Richmond, BC
Website: buddhisttemple.ca
LunarFest (Multiple Venues)
LunarFest is Canada’s premier presenter of contemporary expression in Asian arts and culture. They have set up many cultural/art exhibits around the city in celebration of Chinese New Year.
- Oakridge Centre: The Castles and the Lifestyles (Jan 16 – Feb 10)
- Jack Poole Plaza: Coastal Lunar Lanterns (Jan 18 – Feb 9)
- Queen Elizabeth Theatre: A Musical Banquet – A Feast of Sumptuous Classic Music (Jan 25)
- Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza: Lunarfest Celebrations (Jan 25 & 26)
Website: Lunarfest.org
Bodhi Meditation Chinese New Year Market Place
Date: January 18 & 19, 2020: 11 am – 4 pm
The Bodhi Meditation Chinese New Year Market Place features loads of entertainment and food trucks, as well as haircuts, tea house, photo booth, calligraphy, oracle reading, wishing wall, and more.
Location: 7740 Alderbridge Way, Richmond, BC
Website: www.bodhimeditationvan.org/
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Date: January 26: 11 am – 4 pm
The annual Temple Fair celebration features traditional crafts and activities, live music performances, tea tastings, a calligraphy contest, and more. Suggestion donation is $5.
Location: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC
Website: vancouverchinesegarden.com/temple-fair/
Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre
Date: February 1, 2020
This family-friendly event will feature incredible cultural performances, food to eat, and a community fair to meet local groups and societies.
Location: 578 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC
Website: www.eventbrite.ca/e/lunar-new-years-celebrations-2020-registration-84292502143?fbclid=IwAR1RaawpYuxux7S7Z-OTMY8E6wE8nDNCAVUO6RKKYNY-QErFaNUOr4SBCKs
4. Restaurants with Special Chinese New Year Menus
Here is a list of restaurants that are offering special Chinese New Year menus.
Notch8 Restaurant and Bar
Date: January 26, 2020: 10 am – 3:30 pm
Celebrate this Lunar New Year at Notch8 Restaurant and Bar in the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with a decadent brunch buffet on Sunday, January 26th from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Priced at $88 for adults and half-price for children 12 and under, this exclusive menu developed by Chef de Cuisine Dennis Peckham and his culinary team features elaborate offerings to help celebrate the occasion.
Guests can enjoy a seafood bar consisting of such options as Hot Smoked Salmon, Notch8 Oysters and Salmon Gravlax, as well as chef carving stations showcasing favorites like Whole Suckling Pig and Slow Roasted Notch8 Signature Prime Rib.
The menu will also have a number of traditional dishes such as Har Gau, Sui Mai, Black Bean Crab and Black Pepper Tofu.
For those looking to make the festivities that much sweeter, Chef Peckham has them covered with Green Tea French Toast topped with Stewed Dried Fruit as well as a pastry bar featuring Egg Custard Tart, Jian Dui, Tapioca Lychee Pudding and Red Bean Cake.
For reservations please book online here or by calling the reservations team at 604.662.1900.
Location: Notch8 Restaurant and Bar
Price: $88
Website: www.notch8-dining.com/upcoming-events
Origo Club
Date: January 23, 2020
Origo Club will be hosting an exclusive dinner and pouring of The Dalmore Single Malts Scotch Whiskies in celebration of the Year of the Rat.
This event, hosted by Single Malt Specialist Louis-Jérôme Doise, will start at 6:30 pm with a cocktail reception and feature an incredible line-up of The Dalmore whiskies including the rare 25-Year-Old and the Port Reserve paired exquisitely with Chef David Pan’s 6-course menu. Details are available here.
Location: 6888 River Rd #110, Richmond, BC
Price: $220
Website: origoclub.ca
Pan Pacific Hotel (Oceans 999)
Date: January 26, 2020: 11:30 am – 2:30 pm
Oceans 999 will be offering a Chinese New Year Sunday Brunch featuring inspiring salads, charcuterie, seasonal fresh fruits & cheese, baked goods, juice station, cold displays and more.
Location: 999 Canada Pl #300, Vancouver, BC
Price: $71 Adult|$67 Seniors|$36 Child 6 to 12
Website: https://www.panpacific.com/content/dam/pphg-revamp/en/ppyvr/dining/oceans-999/Chinese%20New%20Year%202020%20Sunday%20Brunch.pdf
Floata
Date: January 26, 2020: 6:30 pm
The annual Chinese New Year Banquet will once again be held at the Floata Seafood Restaurant (#400-180 Keefer Street), featuring lion dances, ‘good luck’ greetings by the Fortune God and a Chinese variety show with singing, cultural dances and more. Tickets are $38 each. Check out my experience at Float’s Chinese New Year Banquet here.
Location: #400-180 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC
Website: www.floata.com/
Many Chinese restaurants offer elaborate, set menus for Chinese New Year for large groups. Be sure to make reservations in advance.
5. Stress-Free Hosting by Getting Party Platters
Party trays can be ordered from the following restaurants:
- Western Lake (4989 Victoria Drive Vancouver, BC)
- Peaceful Restaurant (Multiple locations: Broadway, Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano, Seymour, Robson, and Kingsway)
- T&T Supermarket (various locations, check out the flyer section to see what they are offering)
6. Chinese New Year Gift Ideas
Kirin Chinese New Year Cakes
It is a Chinese New Year tradition in which it is customary to present family, friends and business clients with gifts of New Year Puddings.
Kirin chefs have created six types of pudding this year ($16.25 – $18.25):
- Chinese New Year Cake (sweet)
- Water Chestnut Pudding (sweet)
- Red Bean Pudding (sweet)
- Chinese Radish Pudding (savory)
- Taro Root Pudding (savory)
- Black Sesame Pudding (sweet)
Website: www.kirinrestaurants.com/index.php5?page=chinese_new_year_cakes
Wild Sweets By Dominique & Cindy Duby
Richmond Chocolatiers, Wild Sweets, releases Limited Edition ‘Year of the Rat’ Chocolate Collection for 2020 Chinese New Year Celebration.
They are also offering a Lunar Limited Edition Chocolate Art Gateau based on the Chinese tradition of ‘Red Envelopes’ with its bright red cocoa butter finish and gold coins decor symbolizing ‘Money’.
7. What to Eat During Chinese New Year
Check out my recipe on preparing Chinese Spicy Red Braised Pork Belly.
Dumplings shaped like ancient Chinese money represent wealth and prosperity. Find out how to explore Richmond’s Dumpling Scene here.
