The Light Up Chinatown! street festival returns this summer, taking over a block of Vancouver's historic Chinatown.
Turning the 500-block of Columbia Street into a pedestrian zone, the festival will see Chinatown's culture, food, and performing arts on display.
Returning this year will be "Hawkers Lane" filled with local food businesses. New to the festival will be Street Hawker, Torafuku and Golden Smell Mee, along with others. There will also be some collaborations, like a "Golden Rooster" croissant from Chinatown BBQ and Beaucoup Bakery.
Performances by singer-songwriter Marie Hui, the Phonix Band and others will take over the stage.
"Beyond the music, the event also celebrates tradition with Chinese opera, folk music, and dance performances," reads a press release from the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation.
For the families, there will be a Kids Zone with interactive stations for selfies, crafts, and more.
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre will also be involved, hosting a variety of hands-on activities, from Hong Kong milk tea "pulling" demonstrations to craft stations.
This will be Light Up's fifth year; it was started to help small businesses in the neighbourhood after the COVID-19 pandemic slowed activity in the historic district.
"Light Up Chinatown! shines a spotlight on one of the last historically Asian neighbourhoods in Canada, a place full of culture, stories, and heart," reads a social media post from the festival.
Light Up Chinatown! 2025
When: Saturday, Aug. 26, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 17, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 500-block Columbia Street, Vancouver
Cost: Free
