Bringing in the Lunar New Year with Vancouver's Captivating Chinatown Festivities
The very first Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade was organized by the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver in 1974 as part of the community celebrations for Spring Festival (Chinese New Year). The 1974 parade was an instant success and the Chinese New Year Parade has since become a popular annual cultural attraction in the Vancouver Lower Mainland.
History
During the last three decades, the CBA has continued to focus its activities on the changing needs of our community. Our community involvement includes the creation of an affiliated non-profit society to provide low cost housing and frequent fund raising campaigns to assist the victims of natural disasters in Canada and China. More recently, the CBA has become the organizer for many social and multi-cultural projects including popular annual events such as the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) Parade and the Canada Day Celebration.
The CBA celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2006. As recognition for its valuable community contributions in the past century, the CBA was inducted into the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Business Hall of Fame. This was the very first time an ethnic community association has been installed into this prestigious group by the Vancouver Board of Trade.
The Vancouver Sun also acknowledged the crucial role the CBA has played for the Chinese Canadian community. On the eve of CBA’s 100th anniversary, the Vancouver Sun published a 3-page featured article entitled “The Government of Chinatown”.
Vancouver Chinese New Year Festivities
The Chinese Association of Vancouver serves as the chief co-ordinator of the annual parade, officially titled the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, as well as the vice-president of the Chinese Benevolent area. According to organizers, the Spring Festival Parade had 3,000 participants and drew over 100,000 spectators along the parade route each year.
Given Vancouver’s large Asian community, the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade is a Chinese New Year event not to be missed. You can watch the annual Chinese New Year Parade happening Feb. 14 at 11 a.m. Vancouver’s Chinatown is one place to catch colourful lion and dragon dances can be seen in action at the 43rd Chinese New Year parade in Vancouver on February 14th.
The 44th Chinatown Spring Festival Parade is being held on January 29th this year and is the centerpiece of a month of celebrations. Some popular Canadian examples are Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade, Mississauga’s MuslimFest and Montreal’s Festival International Nuits d’Afrique.
As the chinese new year approaches each winter, Vancouver’s historic Chinatown district springs to life with colorful decorations, fragrant street food and excited revelers awaiting the 15 day Spring Festival. At the heart of these Chinese New Years festivities lies the iconic Chinese New Year Vancouver Chinatown Parade 2015, celebrating its 44th fabulous year spreading cheer across the city on February 8th.
Join over 50,000 spectators expected to line the Chinese parade Vancouver 2015 route to admire splendid lion dance Chinatown, spirited cultural troupes and talented performers honoring rich traditions. Can’t make it in person? Catch all the action from the comfort of home as the Chinese New Year parade broadcasts live across metro Vancouver. However you choose to partake, reading up on the rituals and customs behind the fanfare will help you ring in a prosperous lunar new year with deeper understanding!
The Significance of chinese new year 2015 Celebrations
Chinese New Year marks the turn of the lunar calendar, this time entering the year 4721. Visiting the spectacular Vancouver Chinese New Year parade 2015 provides glimpses of history in the making, commemorating integral cultural moments for Chinese Canadians who confronted immense adversity forging community. Tidying homes, paying off debts and adorning doorways with red paper decorations removes ill fortune from the past year. Reuniting with distant family members over abundantly laden tables acknowledges the springtime renewal of life’s cyclic journey. Exchanging hóngbāo (红包) – shiny red envelopes bearing cash gifts for children and unmarried adults – wishes renewed blessings for those still cultivating their destinies.
Beyond the feasts, family gatherings and gift exchanges, the ubiquitous lion dancers roving through Vancouver’s Chinatown epitomize concerted efforts to attract robust health, fecundity and wealth in the coming Chinese New Year. Teams don elaborate masks and costumes emulating these mythical creatures then visit local businesses performing acrobatic dances full of color and bravado. Shop owners drape lettuce or fresh vegetables overhead, and the performers coax the leafy greens into their mouths as a ritual requesting continued prosperity. Customers enjoying the spectacle tuck monetary gifts into the swirling costume to bring themselves extra fortune. At day’s end, dance teams boisterously compare their bountiful hauls collected throughout Chinatown.
What to Expect at the Chinese New Year Parade Vancouver
What time does the Chinese New Year parade start? This year’s parade takes place on Sunday, February 8th, winding through Chinatown for 2.5 hours starting at 11AM. Check the website for updated Chinese Parade Vancouver 2015 routes each year, as street closures and staging areas vary. Arrive early to secure prime sidewalk spots with unobstructed sightlines along the 1.3-km route! You can also catch a glimpse of the new year parade magic near the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza cultural fair.
Vancouver police motorcycle units stirringly lead a procession of visiting dignitaries before Vancouver’s largest assembly of lion dancers energizes the route. In a thrilling fusion of costume theater and acrobatics, lions stalk through Chinatown streets then simulate battling with playful antagonists. At grand stages periodically erected along the parade route, dancers snatch fistfuls of greens as throngs of spectators snap photos and push forward small bills while strains of erratic drumbeats amplify the fervor.
Interspersed between lion troupes, vibrant cultural acts provide additional entertainment. Exuberant Vancouver residents garbed in traditional outfits totter down the pavement beside swirling ribbon dancers. Children excitedly dash about capturing treats hurled from parade floats in the Chinese New Year 2015 Vancouver parade. Percussion ensembles pound thunderous rhythms, followed by senior tai chi practitioners gracefully wielding fans as the entire city revels together!
The 42nd Chinatown Spring Festival Parade: Year of the Ram
The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade returned for the 42nd year on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015. This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown featured lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances and much more. This is an annual cultural extravaganza not to be missed. The parade began at 11 am. The Year of the Ram in the Chinese Lunar calendar began on Thursday February 19 in 2015.
Highlights of the Parade
The Chinese New Year Parade celebrated the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar and was a festive event for everyone to enjoy. As one of the three largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, the parade featured the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colorful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations. The parade featured some sixty entries, bringing over 3,000 participants from various community and cultural groups. The multicultural dance troupes represented the diverse segments of Canadian cultural heritage, such as the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands, and various community groups. It was not surprising that the parade drew over 50,000 spectators along the route each year plus many more that saw it through TV coverage.
The 1.3-km long route started at the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), proceeded east along Pender Street, turned south onto Gore Street, turned west onto Keefer Street, and then dispersed on Keefer at Abbott.
The parade started at 11 am on Sunday, February 22nd, 2015, and took about two and a half hours to complete.
The parade was broadcast live starting at 11 am on February 22 and rebroadcast the same day at 9 pm on Shaw Cable Channel 4. It was also available to Shaw customers through Shaw On Demand approximately one week later.
Do not miss all the lion dances throughout Chinatown after the parade. As a Chinese New Year tradition to promote good fortune for the year, some lions visited the shops and businesses in Chinatown. The lions performed a celebrative dance at each participating shop to bring good luck and prosperity. People came to see and hear the lion dances up close. This started right after the parade from approximately 1 pm to 3 pm.
The Cultural Fair was seen for more Chinese New Year festivities. By popular demand, the Cultural Fair was held on both days over the weekend on February 21st and 22nd. This celebrative fair featured multicultural performances; special lion dance; military demonstration; martial arts demonstration, and more. It was held at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza (50 East Pender Street).
All events of the 2015 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival were open to the public. The Chinatown Spring Festival Parade and the Cultural Fair had free admission. Chinese New Year Banquet
The annual Chinese New Year Banquet was once again 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. The reception started at 6 pm. Tickets were $35 each.
Co-organizers
- Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver
- Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver
- Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association
- U.C.C.E.S.S.
- Chinese Freemasons Vancouver Branch
- Shon Yee Benevolent Association
The 43rd Chinatown Spring Festival Parade
The Chinese New Year Parade returned for the 43rd time on Sunday, February 14th, 2016. This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown featured lion dances, cultural dance troupes, marching bands, martial arts performances, and much more. This annual cultural extravaganza was not to be missed. The parade began at 11 am. The Year of the Monkey in the Chinese Lunar calendar began on Monday, February 8th, in 2016. Spectators came to see the sights and hear the sounds of the festivities!
Highlights of the Parade
The Chinese New Year Parade celebrated the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar and was a festive event for everyone to enjoy. As one of the three largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, the parade featured the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colorful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations. The parade featured some seventy entries, bringing over 3,000 participants from various community and cultural groups. The multicultural dance troupes represented the diverse segments of Canadian cultural heritage, including the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands, and various community groups. It was not surprising that the parade drew over 100,000 spectators along the route each year, plus many more that saw it through TV coverage.
The 1.3-km long route started at the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), proceeded east along Pender Street, turned south onto Gore Street, turned west onto Keefer Street, and then dispersed on Keefer at Abbott.
The parade started at 11 am on Sunday, February 14th, 2016, and took about two and a half hours to complete.
There was a live broadcast from our Media Sponsors Shaw TV Vancouver (Channel 4) starting at 10:30am.
Do not miss all the lion dances throughout Chinatown after the parade. As a Chinese New Year tradition to promote good fortune for the year, some lions visited the shops and businesses in Chinatown. The lions performed a celebrative dance at each participating shop to bring good luck and prosperity. Come see and hear the lion dances up close. This started right after the parade from approximately 2 pm to 4 pm.
Come see the Cultural Fair for more Chinese New Year festivities. By popular demand, the Cultural Fair was held on both days over the weekend on February 13th and 14th. This celebrative fair featured multicultural performances, special lion dance grand finale, martial arts demonstration and more. It was held at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza (50 East Pender Street).
Performance Schedule:
Saturday, February 13th, 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Sunday, February 14th, 2:00pm to 4:00pm
All events of the 2016 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival were open to the public. The Chinese New Year Parade and the Cultural Fair had free admission.
The annual Chinese New Year Banquet was once again 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. The reception started at 6 pm. Tickets were $35 each.
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