Sun Nin Fei Lok!
The Year 4724 of the Chinese Calendar – Year of the Horse – starts Tuesday, February 17 in the Gregorian Calendar, but celebrations for the 15-day Lunar New Year Spring Festival begin this weekend.
photo: J Minter
Here’s a selection of events to entertain your spirits and taste buds
The 52nd Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade – The community organized parade is one of the highlights of the year and a lively way to wrap up the Lunar New Year Spring Festival. Sunday February 22, Join 100,000+ other along the parade route starting at the Millenium Gate through Chinatown along East Pender, Gore to Keefer and Carrall Streets. Culminating in the Spring Festival Cultural Fair at the Chinese Culture Centre Courtyard.
LunarFest 2026 – From February 14 to 28 the annual celebration shares culture and community through arts and storytelling in an array of events at venues throughout the city, including;
- Lantern City: five locations around the city are filled with giant paper lanterns celebrating the Year of the Horse.
- Lunar Workshop – Brave the Wind: Get crafty and join in various arts and hands-on crafts workshops, February 14-16 and February 21-22 at Granville Island Ocean Artworks
- Breathe New Life Into Multicultural Cooking: Join cross-cultural culinary practitioner Josie Chang, owner of petit été bridging Vietnamese and Taiwanese cultures through food, as she guides participants through a culinary experiment, February 15 at 1111 Union Street
- LNY Splash: In partnership with Vancouver International Film Festival, four films from Asia are screened on February 15 and 16 at VIFF Theatre.
- Lunar Concert: February 24 at Orpheum Theatre featuring Fooderlon Theatre a Taiwanese family troupe, local jazz songstress Kristin Fung and classical music from different cultures and eras with Harmonia and friends.
- Year of the Wild Horse- A C-Pop Drag Extravaganza: Canada’s only C-pop drag show celebrates the Lunar New Year with a wild and glamorous night of music, dance, and charm, February 28 at Performance Works on Granville Island
Taste of Chinatown – continuing until February 22 at Chinatown Storytelling Centre, the celebrations feature festive food collaborations, culinary pop-ups, special events, arts & craft, and more.
Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver – available Thursday to Sundays until February 22 featuring an exclusive tea blend created by the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in collaboration with TEALEAVES. A special Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea will take place Tuesday, February 17th when guests will be treated to an afternoon Lion Dance performance by Hon Hsing Athletic Club, taking place throughout the lobby and Notch8 Restaurant. Reservations are strongly recommended.
photo: LeilaKwok
Year of the Horse at the Museum – The Chinese Canadian Museum celebrates the Year of the Horse on February 21 and 22 – a full weekend of family friendly entertainment, treats, crafts and workshops. Saturday features a live performance of the audio play Bun Fun New Year in English and Cantonese by Five Blessings Collective. Sunday, after the parade join Chef Christopher Leow for a hands-on workshop making a Prosperity Salad and much more.
Spirit of Fire Horse at Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden – step into the tranquility of the Garden for a weekend, February 21-22 of Chinese cultural live performances, tastings, family-friendly workshops, arts & crafts and food vendors.