This September, the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation and the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society invite the whole community to Light Up Chinatown! The inaugural, two-day event runs September 11 and 12, 2021, featuring a variety of family-friendly activities along East Pender and neighbouring streets – from live entertainment, exclusive food collaborations, to glittering displays of lights and lanterns.
“The past year and a half has been particularly devastating for Chinatowns around the world,” says Carol Lee, co-founder and chair of Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. “Our goal for Light Up Chinatown! is to encourage people to reconnect with Vancouver’s Chinatown, especially leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival. The lanterns and lights are beautiful beacons, highlighting the vibrant, cultural history this special neighbourhood continues to hold and represent.”
The two-day event kick-offs on Saturday, September 11, 2021 with an opening ceremony at the main stage on Columbia Street at Keefer at 11 a.m. From there, attendees can join in on a variety of live festivities, including a performance by Goh Ballet, live music, magic show by Rod Chow, and food tastings while exploring shops around Chinatown for unique, specialty offerings.
Ken Tsui of Here There creative studio has brought together an incredible line-up of culinary collaborations, bridging cultures together. These include:
- Chinatown BBQ x Beaucoup Bakery – Popular Peking duck croissant returns with new surprises
- Jade Dynasty x Juice Bar – Multi-course Cantonese dinner, paired with organic wines
- Bao Bei – One-time Sunday brunch event
- Kam Wai Dim Sum x The Keefer Yard – Late night dim sum and cocktails
- DD MAU – Saigon Saturday Cocktail and Sunday pop-up brunch
More information will be announced in the coming days, including how to purchase tickets for these exciting collaborations.
Vancouver Chinatown Foundation has also updated its Taste of Chinatown passport, a self-guided walking food tour where Light Up Chinatown! visitors can sample must-try items from eateries. Passport maps will be handed out near the main stage on both days. Completed passports can be submitted to enter-to-win daily prizes from a variety of Chinatown businesses and restaurants.
“Our Chinatown is filled with brilliant, hardworking, and talented individuals and small businesses, some undiscovered and ones to be rediscovered,” says Jordan Eng, president, Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society. “We hope to see many people fill the streets and help us celebrate and experience all the neighbourhood has to offer.”
In addition, Light Up Chinatown! is holding a special Instagram contest for those who share images throughout the two days, using the #LightUpChinatown hashtag and tagging @chinatownfoundation. The grand prize winner will win a Chinatown restaurant gift package.
Light Up Chinatown! is proudly presented by RBC, and is supported by Rogers, Robert H. Lee Foundation, Concord Pacific, HSBC, Peterson, Strand, Rennie, Bennett Jones, CountDown Events, Tom Lee Music, and Showkraft. We are deeply grateful for all of their support.
For more information, please visit www.lightupchinatown.com.
