In 2025 Vancouver celebrates the Lunar New Year with the 51st annual Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown. It’s an impressive event!

The Year of the Snake begins on January 29th in 2025. Running since 1973, the parade takes place on the first Sunday after the start of the New Year. In 2025, consequently, that means the parade happens on February 2nd. Other events also happen on January 29th, the night before, and for the rest of the week in various places throughout the Lower Mainland. See below for details.

NEW YEAR ACTIVITIES AT THE MUSEUM

TIP: The Chinese Canadian Museum hosts special events on the Lunar New Year weekend of February 1st and 2nd in 2025.

To learn more about the Lunar New Year events at the museum in Chinatown, see the Chinese Canadian Museum website.

Chinese New Year Parade Crowds — East Pender on Parade Day

Chinese New Year’s Parade in Vancouver’s Chinatown

A Vancouver cultural festivity that you don’t want to miss is Chinatown‘s New Year’s parade (unless of course you don’t like crowds). In 2025 the event celebrates its 51st anniversary!

There is no need to travel abroad to experience China. On the day of the Chinese New Year Parade you’ll find yourself surrounded by about a billion Chinese and other Vancouverites (assuming good weather). You’ll also see the occasional colourful lion or dragon, and numerous bands and people in costumes marching down the streets.

At the parade there are marching bands, Chinese lion dancing and entries by numerous community businesses and non-profit groups.

At Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade, sidewalks along the route are packed full of people, the sounds of fire crackers fill the air, and Chinatown is without question the most exciting place in the city to be.

See below for information about Vancouver’s Chinese New Year Parade, or click Lunar New Year Activities for a list of multiple ways to celebrate the event including the parade!

Chinatown and Chinese Cultural Centre — Vancouver’s Chinatown

When and Where

Vancouver’s Chinese New Year’s parade happens in Chinatown from 11:00 am until about 1:00 or 1:30 pm. After the parade, from around 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, lion dances take place throughout the neighbourhood.

In 2025 the Year of the Snake begins on Wednesday, January 29th. The Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, meanwhile, happens a few days later, on Sunday, February 2nd.

TIP #1: Get there early to find a place you can see the road, somewhere along Pender, Gore or Keefer near the entrance gate to Chinatown. Unless it’s raining and miserable, prepare yourself for the crowds – the throng of people is a cultural experience in itself!

TIP #2: Right in the heart of Chinatown is the International Village Mall. It’s an especially interesting place to visit on the weekend of the Lunar New Year. On the day of the parade and the day before, the mall is full of vendors selling artisan products and Chinese New Year-themed souvenirs.

TOURS & FILMS

Want to learn about Chinatown and its history? Want to see inside some of its heritage buildings? Then go for a walk with Historical Chinatown Tours. The lady who leads them is an expert on the area and gets exceptional reviews! The tours take place around Chinese New Year, but at other times of the year too!

New Year Parade Route

The parade goes down West Pender under the Chinatown Millennium Gate, up Gore Street, and then back up along Keefer Street. In total the route is about 1.3 km long and usually lasts for up to two-and-a-half hours.

Chinese New Year Parade Video

Below is a short video of the parade in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Filmed a few years ago, the video will give you an idea of what to expect on February 2nd in 2025.

The video starts and finishes with views from a parkade looking down at the corner of Carrall Street and Keefer. The second scene is of a lion dance going down the parade route along East Pender. The third scene is of parade participants marching west along Keefer Street.

Tips for Parade Viewing

Below are some tips and suggestions to help you maximize your Chinatown Parade experience the next time it takes place.

TIP #1: On Keefer Street by Columbia there is a giant building with a parkade and the words “CHINATOWN” written down the side on a red and yellow neon sign. If you want a good view, and want to be above and away from the crowds, this can be a great place to be. Look up from the street, and you can see people peering down and enjoying the parade from a comfortable and less congested distance.

TIP #2: Either before or after the parade, consider visiting International Village at 88 West Pender. This normally fairly quiet shopping mall completely comes alive during the Lunar New Year. Inside, in addition to thousands of people, you’ll find an assortment of performances and stalls selling all kinds of festive items (or at least that’s the case most years).

TIP #3: While in Chinatown, check out the festivities at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden at 578 Carrall Street. Running from around 11:00 am to 6:00 pm, the festivities there typically include dance performances, live music, a lion dance and other family-friendly cultural activities. Admission used to be by donation. The last few years, however, there is a set price. Expect the place to be busy!

TIP #4: If you want to learn about the history of Chinese Canadians in Vancouver and elsewhere in this country, be sure to visit the Chinese Canadian Museum. Located at 51 East Pender Street in the heart of Chinatown, it’s an excellent museum.

TIP #5: For more activities and ways to celebrate the New Year, see our article about LunarFest. It’s a series of events featuring live performances, lantern displays, film screenings and more.