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LunarFest Vancouver Lunar New Year Events and Celebrations

LunarFest in Vancouver

LunarFest Vancouver is a celebration of the Lunar New Year. The arts and cultural festival features live entertainment, lantern displays and more.

In 2024 the festival runs from February 9th to 29th. It includes lots of interesting activities, including on the Lunar New Year weekend during the festival’s first couple of days, and on the Family Day Long Weekend of February 17th to 19th. On February 9th & 10th, for example, there are dragon dances, craft activities and an arts market at Granville Island. There are also craft workshops in the plaza in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

For the festival’s official website visit lunarfestvancouver.ca.

 


This article contains the following information about LunarFest:

LunarFest Schedule | The Lantern City in Vancouver | LunarFest Community Celebrations | LunarFest Concert | LNY Splash | Other Information


 

Lantern City Lanterns in Vancouver
The Lantern City Lanterns (from 2019)

 

LunarFest Vancouver in 2024

The Lunar New Year is a traditional celebration in a number of Asian cultures. It’s the first day of a calendar based on the cycles of the moon where one of twelve zodiac animals represents each year. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon (or at least that’s the case for this year in most cultures celebrating the day).

LunarFest is an annual celebration of the Lunar New Year in Vancouver. The festival first began in 2009. It was a notable part of the 2010 Winter Olympics and has been taking place annually since then. The festival features artistic displays, exhibits, performances and workshops over a few weeks in February.

Hosted by the same organization behind TaiwanFest in September, the LunarFest series of events runs from February 9th to 29th in 2024. Other events related to LunarFest that also celebrate the Lunar New Year are The Lantern City and LNY Splash. The first of these features a number of lantern art displays in downtown Vancouver. The second also showcases a few outdoor art exhibits, plus a number of films at the VIFF Centre.

The series of events is inclusive to everyone. It’s an expression of several Asian cultures with the goal of bringing local communities together.

 

Lanterns at Ocean Art Works Pavilion
Lanterns at Ocean Art Works Pavilion on Granville Island

 

LunarFest Schedule

LunarFest Vancouver 2024 runs from February 9th to 29th. The theme of this year’s festival is “Born to be Free”.

Locations and dates of things to check out are listed below. As of mid-January, some details are to be confirmed.

 

The Lantern City

Lantern displays take place at the following locations in 2024:

  • šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (750 Hornby Street) – February 9th to 28th. (Note: At this location there is also a LYN Splash art exhibit.)
  • Jack Poole Plaza (1055 Canada Place) – February 9th to 27th.
  • Ocean Art Works on Granville Island (1531 Johnston Street) – February 9th to 26th.
  • Pendulum Gallery (885 West Georgia Street) – February 5th to March 1st.

To learn more about the above art installations, continue reading, see our article about The Lantern City or visit the website thelanterncity.ca.

 

LunarFest Celebrations

Special events and activities take place at the following locations in 2024:

  • Ocean Art Works at Granville Island (1531 Johnston Street) – crafts, performances, market vendors and other activities on weekends between February 10th and 25th.
  • šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (750 Hornby Street) – craft activities happen in the plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on February 10th and 11th.

Details about these events can be found further below in this article.

 

LunarFest Concert: Together We Are!

A special free performance takes place in downtown Vancouver.

  • The Orpheum (601 Smithe Street) – February 13th at 7:30 pm.

The concert features the Harmonia String Ensemble and West Van Youth Band. Performers in the concert include Anna Sagalova, Daniel Lew, Nicholas Urquhart and Van Lefan. For full details and to get your FREE tickets now, click 2024 LunarFest Concert.

 


Continue reading to learn more about some of the featured events listed above.


 

LunarFest Vancouver Event

 

The Lantern City in Vancouver

There are The Lantern City art installations at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (outside the Vancouver Art Gallery), Jack Poole Plaza and Granville Island. This year, there’s also an exhibition at the Pendulum Gallery. The displays are free to admire and each location has a different theme.

 

Lantern City at the Vancouver Art Gallery: We are a Family

The art installation in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery takes place in šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square which is in the 800 block of West Georgia Street between Howe Street and Hornby.

In 2024 the theme of the lanterns outside the art gallery is “We are a Family”. The lantern art recognizes and showcases the diverse communities of Metro Vancouver. The displays at this location can be admired anytime between February 9th and 28th.

Also at šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square at the same time, there is a LYN Splash art exhibit as well (so there are two things to see). It’s Luna the Dragon by artist Nickie Lewis.

 

Lantern City at Jack Poole Plaza: Coastal Lunar Lanterns

A lantern art installation is also set up in Jack Poole Plaza which is on the west side of the Vancouver Convention Centre at 1055 Canada Place. It’s the same square as the Cauldron from the 2010 Olympics.

The display at this venue can be seen anytime between February 9th and 27th in 2024. This year the art is called “Coastal Lunar Lanterns” and it has an Indigenous theme.

(TIP: Jack Poole Plaza is at the edge of the Coal Harbour Seawall which makes a great place for a walk or bike ride.)

 

The Lantern City Lanterns at Jack Poole Plaza
Lanterns at Jack Poole Plaza (Photo by StepByStep2TR)

 

Lantern City at Granville Island: Forever Young

This part of The Lantern City art installations is on display at Ocean Art Works on Granville Island from February 9th to 26th in 2024. The lanterns are free to see at any time between these dates and they have a “Forever Young” theme. The lanterns inspire the creativity of children as well as the inner child in everyone else.

Ocean Artworks is a covered, outdoor pavilion and public space located at 1531 Johnston Street. It’s close to the Granville Island Public Market and almost, but not quite, directly under the Granville Street Bridge. The lanterns are great to see in combination with a visit to the market and other shops at Granville Island, or while in the area for shopping, dinner at a restaurant or seeing some theatre.

Best times to check out the lanterns are at night (when they are at their prettiest), or during the day when LunarFest Community Celebrations are also taking place.

(TIP: Granville Island is famous for its unique shops, art studios, restaurants and theatres. It’s also next to the False Creek Seawall which is a great place for walks and leisurely bike rides.)

 

LunarFest Art Workshop at Ocean Art Works Pavilion
LunarFest Art Workshop at Granville Island

 

Lantern City at the Pendulum Gallery

New for 2024, an exhibition is also set up inside the Pendulum Gallery. Located at 885 West Georgia Street, the featured displays are all about cultural practices, identity and artistic perspectives. The exhibition is available to check out from February 5th until March 1st in 2024.

(TIP: The Pendulum Gallery is across the street from the Vancouver Art Gallery, which is another location with lantern displays from February 9th to 28th. Check out both locations while you’re in the area!)

 


To learn more about Lantern City events visit the website thelanterncity.ca.


 

The Lantern City at Vancouver Art Gallery
Outside the Vancouver Art Gallery (Photo by Jennifer Chen)

 

LunarFest Community Celebrations

Community Celebrations are usually held at two different locations, including Ocean Art Works at Granville Island (so at the same place as one of the Lantern City displays). The other venue is šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (which is the north plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery).

 

Community Celebrations Outside the Vancouver Art Gallery

The other Community Celebrations usually take place at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square which is in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery. The square is on West Georgia Street between Hornby Street and Howe Street. In recent years there have been craft activities, souvenirs and informational displays about LunarFest. There have also been over half a dozen food vendors.

Below is the schedule of activities outside the Vancouver Art Gallery in 2024. With the craft activities, they all have free admission, except for the Bamboo Lantern ones.

 

Saturday, February 10th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Leaping Dragon Craft Workshop at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (i.e., in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery)
  • 12:30 pm – Dragon Charm of Freedom Craft Workshop at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (i.e., in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery)

 

Sunday, February 11th, 2024

  • 11:00 pm – Leaping Dragon Craft Workshop at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (i.e., in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery)
  • 12:30 to 4:00 pm – Dragon Charm of Freedom Craft Workshop at šxʷƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énk Square (i.e., in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery)

 

The Lantern City on Granville Island
At Granville Island (Photo by ACSEA)

 

Community Celebrations at Granville Island

There are Community Celebrations on Granville Island during LunarFest most years. 2024 is no exception. Activities are available on select days this year. They run from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm on the weekends of February 10th & 11th, 17th to 19th and 24th & 25th.

Activities include artist talks, a new arts market and the “Island Tribute” weaving exhibition. There are also various arts and crafts workshops to check out. Most are free to attend. Folks can learn paper crafts, bamboo weaving and more.

Below is the schedule of activities at Granville Island in February 2024.

 

Saturday, February 10th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 am – Colour the Dragon & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Weiwei Xu (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 to 4:00 pm – Bamboo Lantern Craft Workshop (at Arts Umbrella)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Celebrating Through Sharing Culture Craft Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 

Sunday, February 11th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 to 1:00 pm – Creativity Takes Flight Craft Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Tajliya Jamal (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 to 4:00 pm – Bamboo Lantern Craft Workshop (at Arts Umbrella)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Colour the Dragon & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 


For the festival’s official website, visit lunarfestvancouver.ca.


 

Anitartlet at LunarFest
Anitartlet Artisan Vendor at Granville Island

 

Saturday, February 17th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 am – Origami Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Kristina Luu (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Colour the Dragon & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 

Sunday, February 18th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 to 1:00 pm – Dragon Charm of Freedom & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Odera Igbokwe (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Creativity Takes Flight Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 4:00 pm – Bamboo Lantern Craft Workshop (at Arts Umbrella)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 

Monday, February 19th, 2024 (i.e., Family Day)

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 am – Origami Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Colour the Dragon & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 


For the festival’s official website, visit lunarfestvancouver.ca.


 

Musicians at Lunarfest Vancouver
Live Entertainment at Lunarfest Vancouver

 

Saturday, February 24th, 2024

  • 11:00 am – Family-friendly Dragon Dancing Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 am – Origami Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Damian John (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Dragon Charm of Freedom & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshop (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 

Sunday, February 25th, 2024

  • 11:00 am to 4:00 pm – LunarFest Arts Market (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 11:00 to 1:30 pm – Colour the Dragon & Leaping Dragon Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:00 pm – The Lantern City Artist Talk with Anita Ho (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)
  • 1:30 to 3:30 pm – Creativity Takes Flight Craft Workshops (at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion)

In addition to the above, from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm, there is also a LunarFest Arts Market with around half a dozen artists at the Ocean Artworks Pavilion.

 


For the festival’s official website visit lunarfestvancouver.ca.


 

LunarFest at Granville
The Lantern City Lanterns at Granville Island

 

LunarFest Concert in 2024

The featured LunarFest Concert in 2024 takes place at 7:30 pm on Tuesday, February 13th. It’s held at the Orpheum Theatre and tickets are free!

LunarFest invites everyone to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in harmony. This is a concert that brings together diverse communities. The show’s lineup includes the Harmonia String EnsembleWest Van Youth Band, and more.

For full details about the concert, visit the LunarFest Vancouver website.

 


For the festival’s official website visit lunarfestvancouver.ca.


 

LNY Splash in 2024

LNY Splash is related to both LunarFest and The Lantern City. Similar to The Lantern City, LNY Splash features art installations at a few Vancouver locations. In addition to that, however, this third series of events also includes a number of films on the Family Day Long Weekend at the VIFF Centre in downtown Vancouver.

 

LNY Splash Art Exhibits

LYN Splash showcases special outdoor art exhibits at three different places in Vancouver between February 9th and 29th.

Peace & Prosperity is by Taiwanese-Canadian artist Kuan-chih Su. It can be found at the corner of 14th Avenue and Granville Street. Near the intersection of Robson Street and Cardero in the West End, meanwhile, there is The Gift of Life which is made of bamboo by artist Huei-Ting Tsai. And finally, in the North Plaza outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, (a.k.a. šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square), there is Luna the Dragon which is made from biodegradable, organic materials by artist Nickie Lewis.

 

LYN Splash Films

In 2024, LNY Splash films take place at the VIFF Centre on the following dates. With the films, they are all in their original languages with English subtitles.

 

Friday, February 16th, 2024

  • Abang Adik (Malaysia)
  • The Sunny Side of the Street (Hong Kong)
  • The House of No Man (Vietnam)

 

Saturday, February 17th, 2024

  • Abang Adik (Malaysia)
  • Grandma and Her Ghosts (Taiwan)
  • Untold Herstory (Taiwan)

 

Sunday, February 18th, 2024

  • Ajooma (Singapore & Korea)
  • Be With Me (Taiwan)

 

For tickets and more information about the films, visit the LNY Splash website.

 

Other Information

For more information about the LunarFest event visit the official LunarFest Vancouver website. For more information about just the lantern displays visit The Lantern City website.

To learn about similar events celebrating the same occasion, see our article about Lunar New Year Celebrations.

Other articles that might be of interest include the following: