The Chinese New Year Parade will return for the 47th time on Sunday, January 26th, 2020. This signature event of Vancouver’s Chinatown will feature 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 will begin at 11 am. The Year of the Rat in the Chinese Lunar calendar will begin on Saturday, January 25th in 2020. Come see the sights and hear the sounds of the festivities!

Highlights of the Parade

The Chinese New Year Parade celebrates the new year of the Chinese lunar calendar and is a festive event for everyone to enjoy. As one of the three largest non-commercial annual parades in Vancouver, the parade features the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada with dozens of colourful and energetic lions from various local fraternal and martial arts organizations. The parade will feature some seventy entries, bringing over 3,000 participants from various community and cultural groups. The multicultural dance troupes represent the diverse segments of our Canadian cultural heritage such as the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands and various community groups. It is not surprising that the parade draws over 100,000 spectators along the route each year.

Parade Route

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. See the map here

Parade Schedule

The parade will start at 11 am on Sunday, January 26th, 2020 and will take about two and a half hours to complete.

Post-Parade Lion Dances

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 will be visiting the shops and businesses in Chinatown. The lions will perform a celebrative dance at each participating shop to bring good luck and prosperity. Come see and hear the lion dances up close. This will start right after the parade from approximately 2 pm to 4 pm.

Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival – Cultural Fair

Come see the Cultural Fair for more Chinese New Year festivities. By popular demand, the Cultural Fair will be held on both days over the weekend on January 25th and 26th. This celebrative fair will feature multicultural performances, special lion dance grand finale, martial arts demonstration and more. To be held at the Sun Yat-Sen Plaza (50 East Pender Street).

Admission

All events of the 2020 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival are open to the public. The Chinese New Year Parade and the Cultural Fair have free admission.

Chinese New Year Banquet

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.

Social Media

Use #vanspringfestival on Twitter and Instagram, or wherever you post.

Co-organizers

• Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver
• Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver
• Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Chinese Freemasons Vancouver Branch
• Shon Yee Benevolent Association