Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration Set for February 2, 2025
VANCOUVER, BC – Organized by the 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, and Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada, along with other community and multicultural organizations, the 2025 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration will be held on February 2, 2025 (Year of the Snake, Lunar New Year’s 5th day), promising another unforgettable cultural feast for the public.
A Tradition Entering Its Second Half-Century
At a press conference held on January 2, Helen Qian, Director of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and President of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, announced that this annual event, which began in 1974, has become one of Canada’s largest Spring Festival celebrations. Each year, diverse parade contingents gather in Chinatown to celebrate Canada’s proud multiculturalism. The festival is now a signature event in Vancouver, adding vibrant cultural color and serving as a bright symbol of the city.
As one of the Designated Civic Events or Parades by the City of Vancouver, irrespective of weather conditions – be it rain or shine, sleet or snow – the annual Spring Festival Parade has engaged nearly 5,000 individuals representing over 70 cultural groups from various communities. Participants include representatives from all levels of Canadian government as well as numerous dignitaries from consulates around the world, military and police forces, community organizations, scouting groups, marching bands, lion and dragon dance teams, and art and dance troupes. Last year, the 50th Golden Jubilee celebration attracted nearly 200,000 spectators from near and far.
This year marks the start of a new era, as the Spring Festival Celebration enters its second 50 years. A wide array of events will take place on February 2, 2025 (Year of the Snake, Lunar New Year’s 5th day), in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Everyone is invited to join in celebrating the arrival of the Year of the Snake, Helen added.
Chinese New Year celebration Recognized by UNESCO
Consul CHEN Qingjie from the Chinese Consulate in Vancouver highlighted that Lunar New Year is one of the oldest and most significant traditional festivals in Chinese culture; it is a time for family reunions and welcoming new beginnings. The festival is not only celebrated in China but has also gained global recognition. Many countries have declared it a public holiday, with approximately one-fifth of the world’s population celebrating it in various forms. Notable leaders often issue greetings during this period. On December 4th, at UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Asunción, Paraguay, China’s application for “Spring Festival – Social Practices of the Chinese people in Celebration of the Traditional New Year” was approved for inclusion in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Consul CHEN emphasized that the Snake holds a special place in Chinese culture, symbolizing wisdom and caution while embodying wishes for good fortune in the new year.
Spring Festival Joint Greetings Advertisement
Fred Kwok, Director of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and Chairman of the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, introduced the joint Spring Festival greeting advertisement to be published in newspapers. The fees for the advertisement are as follows: Businesses: $35; Associations: $30; Couples: $25; Individuals: $20. For registration and payment, please contact the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver. The deadline for submission is January 22, 2025 at 4:00 pm. For inquiries, please call (604) 681-1923.
Spring Festival VIP Reception
Syrus Lee, a committee member of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and representative of the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, mentioned that before the grand parade begins, there will be a VIP Spring Festival Reception to be held in the Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association. This reception will allow dignitaries to exchange New Year greetings.
Encouraging Youth Volunteerism
Jacky Leung, a committee member of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and representative of S.U.C.CE.S.S., provided information on the recruitment of volunteers for the event. He pointed out that the large-scale Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, which attracts over 100,000 spectators, requires a significant number of volunteers for tasks such as organizing and maintaining order. Volunteer recruitment is currently underway, and he encourages more young people to actively participate. Interested
individuals can contact S.U.C.CE.S.S. for registration.
Welcome to Participate, Support, and Sponsor
Raymond Cheung, Director of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and Chairman of the Chinese Freemasons, introduced the sponsorship program for the Spring Festival Celebration, welcoming businesses, associations, media, and individuals to support and participate in the event. To commemorate the 2025 Spring Festival Celebration, the organizing committee will edit and publish a “Special Edition.” All are invited to contribute, place advertisements, and help make the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration even more magnificent. For sponsorship details, please contact the Chinese Freemasons.
Spring Festival Celebration Gala Dinner
Norton Lee, Coordinator of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and Vice President of the Shon Yee Benevolent Association of Canada, announced that the Spring Festival Celebration Gala Dinner would take place on February 2, 2025 (Sunday), at 6:00 pm at the Floata Seafood Restaurant. The program includes lion dance performances, New Year greetings, God of Wealth blessings, song and dance performances, and a festive dinner. Tickets are $55 each, and each table (for 10 people) is $550. Due to limited seats, organizations and individuals are encouraged to purchase tickets and reserve seats promptly from the Canadian Shon Yee Benevolent Association. The deadline for ticket purchases is January 25,
2025. The address of the Shon Yee Benevolent Association is 408 Jackson Ave., and inquiries can be made by calling (604) 251-4515.
Chinatown Spring Festival Parade
Frank Huang, Coordinator of the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration and Vice President of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, introduced the schedule of the Year of the Snake Chinatown Spring Festival Parade to be held on February 2, 2025. The parade will kick off at Millennium Gate in Chinatown at 11:00 am, proceeding along East Pender Street, Gore Street, and concluding at the intersection of Keefer Street and Carrall Street. The parade covers a distance of 1.3 kilometers, taking approximately 3 hours. Participants in the parade include representatives from all three levels of the Canadian government, military and police contingents, diplomats from China and various countries, as well as community groups, Scouts, military bands, lion dance troupes, dragon dance teams, cultural and artistic dance groups, and more.
Frank pointed out that the Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, which has spanned over half a century, is a perfect embodiment of the UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, “Chinese Spring Festival Celebrations.”
The Spring Festival Cultural Fair
George Wu, Secretary General of the Chinese Benevolent Association and person in charge of the Spring Festival Cultural Fair, provided details about the arrangement of the Cultural Fair. The Spring Festival Cultural Fair will take place on February 2, 2025, from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Chinese Cultural Centre, and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Garden Courtyard (50 East Pender Street). The Lunar New Year celebration will feature a variety of multicultural artistic performances, including drama, singing, dancing, and other colorful programs, along with Lunar New Year celebration booths. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to attend with family and friends.
During the press conference, Helen Qian expressed special thanks to community organizations and businesses for their support and sponsorship of the 2025 Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration.
Honorary Chairpersons of the Celebration, representatives from the Presenting Sponsor and Gold Sponsors also attended the press conference and delivered speeches.
For details on sponsorship methods, parade participation applications, applications for cultural and artistic performances, and volunteer registration for the 2025 Year of the Snake Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration, please follow the Vancouver Chinese Benevolent Association website and directly contact the Chinatown Spring Festival Celebration Committee for applications. For telephone inquiries, please call (604) 681-1923.
Media contact:
Frank Huang
604-512-4317