Vancouver Chinatown Festival

The Vancouver Chinatown Festival is a multicultural event in Chinatown that features live entertainment, food vendors and other activities in the summer.

In 2023 the festival happened on July 15th and 16th. Other things to do around this time of year include major events like the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Surrey Latin Festival and Uptown Live Street Party in New Westminster. There is also both Symphony in the Park and Opera in the Park at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby.

Festival dates for 2024 are still to be confirmed.

To learn about what else happened this month, see our July Calendar of Events. For information about the Vancouver Chinatown Festival, continue reading.

Vancouver Chinatown Festival

In past years the Vancouver Chinatown Festival has featured a Streetfest block party, Youth Talent Showdown, Young Star Challenge talent show (in some years), multicultural performances, a walking tour of the neighbourhood and other activities.

After two years of cancellations because of COVID-19, the festival returned as a two-day event in 2022 on July 16th and 17th. It featured dance and music performances, an outdoor movie and other activities. The festival was back again in 2023.

Want a personalized tour of Chinatown for you and your friends? Then see our article about Historical Chinatown Tours.

When and Where

Last year’s event happened on the weekend of July 15th and 16th. It ran from 11:00 am until 6:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

Each year the event takes place in Vancouver’s Chinatown around the corner of Keefer Street and Columbia Street near the Chinese Cultural Centre which is located at 555 Columbia Street. At the intersection of the two streets there is a large outdoor stage where the entertainment takes place. There are also seats for audience members to sit at. For a block along Keefer Street you’ll find a row of community information booths and a small number of vendors. In the area there are also a few food trucks.

The nearest SkyTrain Station is Stadium-Chinatown on the Expo Line which is less than a 10-minute walk away.

JAZZ FESTIVAL IN FORT LANGLEY

Another highly-recommended event that happens in July is the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival. It features ticketed events, but also lots of free concerts. The festival runs from July 25th to 28th in 2024.

What’s on at the Festival

The full schedule of activities for the 2024 Vancouver Chinatown Festival is still to be confirmed. From past years, though, some of the highlights include kids and cultural diversity corners, live on-stage performances, an artisan’s market displaying unique gifts and crafts from a variety of vendors, Mahjong, which is a traditional and popular Chinese game that’s enjoyed widely, a petting zoo with live animals for children to enjoy up close, and more fun things to see and do.

Part of the festival’s opening ceremony is a traditional Lion Dance. There are also other dance and musical performances on an outdoor stage throughout the weekend. As well, there are a few food trucks on hand and a movie night on the first evening.

Chinatown Chinese Festival — Keefer Street at Vancouver Chinatown Festival

Other Information

Click Vancouver Chinatown Festival for more details about the event.

For information on things to do while in the neighbourhood, click Vancouver Chinatown. In that article you’ll learn about places of interest in the area, including the Chinese Canadian Museum.

For other events going on in Metro Vancouver, check out the Festivals & Events Calendar.

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