Welcome, Year of the Dragon: Where to celebrate the Lunar New Year across the West Coast

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is a widely celebrated festival in many Asian cultures. It follows the lunar calendar, and the date varies each year, usually falling between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20 on the Gregorian calendar.

The exact date is determined by the new moon, specifically the second new moon after the winter solstice. This year, Lunar New year falls on Feb.10, which will commence the year of the dragon.

The Lunar New Year is associated with various symbols and traditions that signify good fortune, prosperity, and the hope for a fresh start. Some common symbols include the Chinese zodiac animals (each year is associated with one of the 12 animals), red lanterns, firecrackers and the colour red, which is considered lucky.

Red envelopes, known as “hongbao” in Mandarin or “lai see” in Cantonese, are a traditional gift during the Lunar New Year. These red envelopes typically contain money and are given to children, unmarried relatives and friends as a gesture of good luck and blessings for the coming year.

A time for honouring ancestors and respecting family traditions, the Lunar New Year is also a time for family reunions, and many people travel long distances to be with their loved ones.

If you’d like to join the festivities, here’s a look at some of the celebrations planned across the West Coast.

1. Vancouver & Richmond, British Columbia:

Vancouver hosts one of the largest Lunar New year celebrations in North America. Key landmarks in Vancouver’s Chinatown include the historic Millennium Gate and the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Classical Chinese Garden – these will be focal points for cultural events and celebrations during Lunar New Year.

The Lantern City: From Feb. 9 t0 28, 2024, experience a series of lantern art installations at locations like šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (North of the Vancouver Art Gallery), Ocean Art Works (Granville Island), and Pendulum Gallery.

LunarFest: This festival includes various family-friendly activities and entertainment, blending Asian cultures like Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese. Highlights include a Lantern City exhibit and a cultural performance at the Orpheum Theatre.

Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade: Taking place in Chinatown, this parade is a vibrant and lively event featuring traditional dances and various cultural displays. It’s recommended to arrive early to find a good viewing spot along Pender, Gore or Keefer streets, near the entrance gate to Chinatown.

Richmond Centre: Enjoy vibrant decorations, live music, lion dancing, a God of Fortune appearance, an eye dotting ceremony and children’s activities. The biggest celebrations are scheduled for Jan. 29, starting at 11 a.m.

Aberdeen Centre’s flower & gift Fair: This popular fair, running daily until Jan. 22, features stalls selling treats, decorations, toys, festive plants and flowers. The New Year countdown on Jan. 21 includes cultural performances and a blessing from the Chinese God of Fortune. Additionally, on Jan. 28, the mall hosts further performances to mark the New Year.

2. Seattle, Washington:

Lunar New Year Fair at Wing Luke Museum: This event, on Feb. 3, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., features a lion dance performance, festive art activities, community booths and more. The lion dance performance is free to the public, and the indoor fair is ticketed. Learn more about the event here.

Lunar New Year in South Seattle: Scheduled for Feb. 10, 2024, this event at the Phinney Center includes lantern making, lion dancing, taiko drums and local food vendors. Admission is free.

Lunar New Year in Chinatown: Taking place on Feb. 24, 2024, this celebration in Seattle’s Chinatown features vendor booths, dance performances, music, and over 40 food vendors. The event is located along S. King Street and in Hing Hay Park, with free admission.

Lunar New Year at Southcenter Mall: On Feb. 10, 2024, Southcenter Mall will host a traditional lion dance performance, showcasing a 25-foot dragon. The event also features a Moon Gate, Wishing Tree and cherry blossom trees. It’s free to attend and runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Seattle Night Market: Celebrate at the Seattle Night Market on Feb. 10, 2024, in the Magnuson Hangar. This event features an illuminated market, celebratory music and the “Drunken Lions dance.”

Tết in Seattle – Vietnamese Lunar New Year: This festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series, Feb. 3 and 4, 2024, at the Armory Food & Event Hall and Fisher Pavilion. It’s free and open to the public, showcasing Vietnamese arts, music, food, lion dances, fashion shows and a health fair.

3. San Francisco, California:

Chinese New Year Parade: This parade – one of the top 10 parades in the world – will be held on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, from 5:15 to 8 p.m. It’s known for being one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in North America and the biggest parade celebrating the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.

Flower Market Fair: On Feb. 3 and 4, 2024, this fair in Chinatown will feature Kung Fu demonstrations, magic shows and over 120 booths selling fresh flowers, fruits and more​.

Community Street Fair: Set for Feb. 24 and 25, 2024, this fair offers Chinese folk dancing, opera, drumming, and various other activities and entertainment in the heart of San Francisco’s Chinatown​.

Chinatown YMCA New Year Run: The 46th annual Chinese New Year Run/Walk hosted by Chinatown YMCA will be held March 3, 2024​.

San Francisco Public Library programs: The library offers free programs in honour of Lunar New Year, featuring music and spoken word performances from violinists to rappers.

4. Portland, Oregon:

Chinese New Year Cultural Fair: This event at the Oregon Convention Center features live music, martial arts, Chinese folk dances, dragon and lion dances, and other family-friendly cultural performances. It’s a great opportunity to try hands-on activities like face painting, calligraphy, and arts and crafts​.

Oregon 2024 Lunar New Year Celebration: The Chinese Friendship Association of Portland presents this celebration at Keller Auditorium Feb. 2, 2024. It includes art and craft activities, as well as performances such as ‘Contemporary Teresa Teng’ by Xiaoshu Wang, face-changing art by Long Yun, and other award-winning artists showcasing traditional Chinese culture.

Lan Su Chinese Garden Celebrations: This garden hosts various events to celebrate Lunar New Year, including a Dragon and Lantern Viewing in the evenings. The garden is illuminated with red lanterns and floating lantern sculptures, providing a festive atmosphere with traditional performances and interactive cultural activities​.

Chinatown Parade: In partnership with the Oregon Historical Society, the Portland Chinatown Museum celebrates the holiday with lion dancers, performers, and the annual Lunar New Year Dragon Dance Parade through Old Town Chinatown, Downtown, and up to the Oregon Historical Society Park Plaza​.

5. Edmonton, Alberta:

Edmonton parade: Chinatown in the McCauley neighbourhood hosts a street parade with drum music, colourful lions and firecrackers, along with speeches by local dignitaries.

Events by the Edmonton Chinese Bilingual Education Association: The association organizes annual celebrations at Edmonton City Center. Additionally, the Chinese bilingual Meyonokh School in southeast Edmonton hosts a festival for the Chinese New Year.

West Edmonton Mall Lunar New Year Extravaganza: Scheduled for Feb. 10, 2024, this extravaganza at West Edmonton Mall features traditional dragon dances, lion parades, martial arts shows, various live performances and Chinese cuisine. There’s a $2 entry fee per person, but children younger than 10 and seniors older that 65 can enter for free​.

6. Calgary, Alberta:

Chinese New Year Festival 2024: Hosted by the Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre, this festival features dragon and lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, singers and much more. One of the biggest celebrations in the city, it take place on Feb. 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2024, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 197 1 St SW, Calgary. The best part? It’s free to attend​.

Calligratherapy: An event blending calligraphy with mindfulness for creative self-expression and relaxation. This in-person workshop invites participants of all skill levels to explore the art of calligraphy, inspired by the dragon’s spirit – all materials will be provided.

7. Anchorage, Alaska:

Alaska Chinese Association: A night of music performances, vendors and more on Feb.10.

8. Whitehorse, Yukon:

The Yukon Chinese Association: On Feb. 3 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, the celebration will include a Chinese banquet with round table setting, traditional Chinese dance, and singing performances.

Golden Hill Box Hill: A free event for people of all ages, the Feb. 17 Chinese Lunar New Year Festival in Box Hill features a day of performances, Chinese cuisine and celebrations that pay homage to centuries of tradition.

9. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories:

The Yellowknife Lantern Festival: The Yellowknife Chinese Association will offer workshops and their famous lantern festival. Lanterns will be lit from Feb. 12 to 18 at Somba Ké Park. Click here, to sign up.

10. Victoria, British Columbia:

Lunar New Year’s Parade & Blessing of Merchants: On Feb. 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., the parade will begin in the 500 block of Fisgard Street and conclude at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association/Chinese Public School (636 Fisgard St.). After the parade, lion teams will visit merchants to perform and receive offerings, blessing the businesses for good luck, prosperity and health in the New Year​.

Chinatown Celebrations: A series of events, including lion dances and other traditional activities, will take place in Chinatown, engaging the community and visitors in the festive spirit​.

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