VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Vancouver Chinatown Foundation’s Chinatown Storytelling Centre is proud to host the much-anticipated Taste of Chinatown!. Part of a month-long celebration to ring in the Lunar New Year, this annual event boasts exciting collaborations, culinary treats, and activities to explore the heart of Chinatown. The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation invites the entire community to visit the iconic neighbourhood to support and celebrate Chinatown’s vibrant small business community.
“We invite you to join us in Chinatown to celebrate Lunar New Year, and see first-hand the vibrancy and resilience of our community,” says Carol Lee, Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. “Through collaboration with local businesses and partners, Taste of Chinatown! brings people together to share a cultural experience while supporting the heart and soul of our neighbourhood. We can’t wait for everyone to join us in this incredible celebration of food, art, and tradition, all while welcoming the New Year.”
Event Highlights
January – all month long, in-store and online:
Kick off Lunar New Year with specialty products and collaborations available at Foo Hung Curios, including the following:
- Justine Crawfart “Floral Snake” Collection
- Artbedo “Bao Lion Dancing” Collection
- Sugarfina Collection, including Lunar New Year Bento Boxes and a Tasting Collection
- HYPE Chocolate Collaboration, including a Dark Chocolate Holy Duck Chili Oil Bar and Freeze-Dried Lucky Candy Chocolates
- Haywire Winery partnership, which includes an exclusive Lunar New Year wine
- Fairmont Hotel Vancouver features Gold Mountain Tea in its Lunar New Year High Tea menu (January 9th - February 23rd)
- Notch8 Restaurant & Bar features Gold Mountain Tea in a special tea cocktail (January 29th - February 2nd)
Saturday, January 18, 2025 – Family Saturdays (11:00 am to 1:00 pm):
Join us at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre for the first of our series of Family Saturdays workshops in 2025 (free for youth 17 and under). On this day, we’ll show visitors how to repurpose red envelopes into vibrant Lunar New Year decorations to take home with them, celebrating the cherished tradition of sharing good luck and well wishes for the year ahead.
Friday, January 31, 2025 – Chinatown Cocktail Showdown (5:30 pm to 8:30 pm)
The big weekend begins with a ticketed event at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in partnership with Destination Vancouver's Dine Out Vancouver 2025. The Chinatown Cocktail Showdown brings together eight of Chinatown’s finest bars and restaurants—including Bagheera, Bao Bei, Chickadee, Fiorino, Keefer Bar, Kissa Tanto, Laowai, and Meo—to compete for the best Lunar New Year-inspired cocktail.
Guests will also enjoy delicious small bites from fan-favourites Chinatown BBQ, Dicky’s Dumps, Pizza Coming Soon, and DD Mau. The showdown will feature two coveted awards:
- Popular Vote (selected by attendees)
- Judges’ Vote, with an esteemed panel of judges including Lee Man, Kaitlyn Stewart, Fred Lee, Alex Gill, and Alessandro Rossi, special guest from Ruby in Copenhagen
This lively event is the perfect opportunity to celebrate Chinatown’s unique nightlife scene and culinary excellence. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.
Lunar New Year
Weekend Activities at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre (11:00 am to 3:00 pm):
The celebration continues with a full weekend of activities for all ages at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. Highlights include:
- Colour a Life-Sized Mural of Chinatown by local artist Serena Chu
- Lunar New Year Selfie Station at Yucho Chow Studio inside the Chinatown Storytelling Centre
- Candy Tasting and Red Pocket Making Craft activities for kids and families
Saturday, February 1, 2025:
Specialty day-of activations will be available, including:
- Specialty Tastings and Pop-Ups
- Sample Haywire Winery Lunar New Year Red wine and the Holy Duck Chili HYPE Chocolate Bar
- Taste the limited-edition BBQ Pork Cruffin collaboration from Chinatown BBQ x Beaucoup Bakery which will be available for purchase
- Taste a special LNY Boba Run, which will be available for purchase
- Admission is just $5 per person, with free entry for youth 17 and under
Sunday, February 2, 2025:
On Parade Day, make the most of your time in Chinatown with another opportunity to enjoy activities and experiences at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, including pop-ups, tastings, mural painting, craft workshops, and more. Special Pop-Ups include:
- Saan Saan Cafe's Hong Kong Milk Tea and Pastries will be available for purchase
- Additional Lunar New Year specialty items at Foo Hung Curios
- Celebrate, Support, and Discover Chinatown!
- Admission is just $5 per person, with free entry for youth 17 and under
To learn more about Taste of Chinatown!, visit the event website at www.tasteofchinatown.ca.
About the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation:
The Vancouver Chinatown Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to the revitalization of Chinatown, one of Canada’s most iconic neighbourhoods. The Foundation aims to build resilient and inclusive communities by promoting the well-being of those in need while preserving Chinatown’s irreplaceable cultural heritage. Learn more at chinatownfoundation.org.
About the Chinatown Storytelling Centre:
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre, a project of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, celebrates the power of stories in building community and understanding. Through storytelling, the Centre honours the sacrifices made by previous generations and encourages intergenerational dialogue to inspire resolve in current and future challenges.
Media Assets
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