Light Up Chinatown!

Light Up Chinatown! returns this year with an exciting lineup of food, entertainment, and cultural activities to celebrate the vibrancy of Vancouver’s Chinatown. Presented by RBC, Light Up Chinatown! is a free two-day festival that features live entertainment. There will also be a dedicated kids' zone, cultural performances, interactive activities for all ages, and specialty programming at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. Visitors can enjoy traditional lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, walking tours and music performances throughout the festival. The festival is fully licensed, allowing people 19+ with valid ID to enjoy beer, wine, and spirits inside the festival grounds. The festival will also bring back the Passport Program, encouraging visitors to explore Chinatown businesses and offering opportunities to win big prizes.

Attendees can indulge in mouthwatering dishes from Hawkers Lane food stalls from around Chinatown, featuring vendors like Torafuku, Potluck Hawker, and Golden Smell Mee, alongside collaborations such as Holy Duck with Ember Hong Kong BBQ and DD Mau with Pacific Reach and Mama in the Kitchen. Treats from Lee’s Donuts, Hype Chocolate, and the Light Up Chinatown! Bar and Slushie Station add to the culinary delight, while exclusive neighbourhood collaborations, including Kam Wai’s special Bao and Chinatown BBQ’s roast soy chicken croissant, highlight local flavours.

Beyond the food, live entertainment will feature traditional Chinese opera and dance performances, as well as contemporary sets from artists like Marie Hui and The Phonix Band, attracting a young and fun lineup. Families can also enjoy a dedicated Kids Zone with interactive activities from cultural organizations.

Safety continues to be a top priority for the festival. The Vancouver Police Department is providing additional foot patrol officers around the neighbourhood, and there will be increased security measures in and around the festival grounds.

Date/Time: Saturday, August 16, from 11 am - 9 pm PT and Sunday, August 17, from 11 am - 6 pm PT

Location: 500 Block of Columbia Street