Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver is welcoming the Year of the Horse with a two-day Lunar New Year celebration packed with hands-on workshops, live audio theatre, curator tours, and family-friendly activities.
The festivities run February 21 and 22 at the museum’s home in the historic Wing Sang Building in Chinatown, offering a cultural experience that blends tradition, storytelling, and community. Guests of all ages can drop in, participate, and learn more about Chinese Canadian heritage through food, crafts, and performance.
A Weekend of Culture, Crafts, and Celebration in Chinatown
The museum’s Lunar New Year programming highlights themes of connection, creativity, and cultural preservation. Visitors can explore a treat-tasting station featuring the classic Tray of Togetherness, try festive crafts tied to the Year of the Horse, and enjoy multiple live presentations of the audio play Bun Fun New Year by Five Blessings Collective.
Curator-led tours of the museum’s feature exhibition, “Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s–2000”, will run throughout the weekend as well as select times in three different languages. The tour offers a deeper look into the golden era of Hong Kong and Taiwanese pop music and its influence on Chinese Canadian culture.
Saturday, February 21: Crafts, Candy, and Live Audio Theatre
Programming runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning with a tasting of the Tray of Togetherness, a beloved Lunar New Year tradition. Throughout the day, guests can sample classic sweets while learning the symbolism behind each item.
Drop-in crafting continues throughout the day, where visitors can make Pencil Ponies, a lucky take-home craft celebrating the Year of the Horse.
The museum will host two performances of Bun Fun New Year, an English show at 11:30 a.m., followed by a Cantonese performance at 1:30 p.m. The story follows twin bunnies preparing for a New Year feast, exploring the meaning of the holiday through food and family.
Those looking to dive deeper into Chinese Canadian pop culture can join curator Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee for special tours of the Dream Factory exhibition at 1 p.m. (English) and 3 p.m. (Mandarin).
Sunday, February 22: Cooking Workshops and Traditional Fai Chun Printing
Sunday brings a new lineup of activities, again with a full day of Tray of Togetherness tasting.
One of the weekend’s highlights is the Lunar New Year Prosperity Salad Workshop led by chef-educator Christopher Leow. The hands-on session explores Yu Sheng, a festive dish from Singapore and Malaysia symbolizing abundance and good fortune. Participants will prepare ingredients, learn about its cultural roots, and take part in the joyful tradition of tossing the salad together.
Workshops run from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a registration fee of $5 + GST.
From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the Bagua Artist Association will host a drop-in session where guests can print their own Spring Couplets (Fai Chun) using hand-carved linocut blocks. Visitors can mix and match auspicious phrases and motifs to create custom designs on traditional red paper.
Sunday also includes another pair of Dream Factory tours led by Curators Bofei Zhang and Yilin Chen at 1 p.m. (English) and 3 p.m. (Mandarin).
New Year Gifts at 1889 Trading Co.
The museum’s gift shop, 1889 Trading Co., also has a selection of Lunar New Year items to mark the Year of the Horse. Current and new offerings include a Chinese Zodiac Rubik’s Cube, a limited Year of the Horse Red Pocket, and the 200-piece Welcoming Lunar New Year Puzzle by Arcadia Puzzles.
Visitors can also explore books, cultural gifts, and other themed merchandise connected to Chinese Canadian history and celebration.
A Cultural Hub in the Heart of Vancouver Chinatown
Since opening in 2023, the Chinese Canadian Museum has become one of the city’s most significant cultural spaces — the first of its kind in Canada dedicated to Chinese Canadian stories. Housed in the landmark Wing Sang Building, the museum continues to expand its programming with exhibitions, educational workshops, and community events.
The Lunar New Year weekend offers a welcoming, accessible way to engage with traditions that have shaped Vancouver for generations.
For full details on exhibitions and events, visit chinesecanadianmuseum.ca. Tickets to the museum are available online or in person at 51 E Pender Street.
