Taste of Chinatown, presented by Scotiabank, returns to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre with a month-long Lunar New Year celebration beginning February 6. Now in their third year, the program brings together ticketed events, cultural workshops, pop-ups, and neighbourhood collaborations marking the Year of the Horse.
Programming centres on the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, with select activities extending beyond the venue through partnerships with local businesses and cultural institutions. The focus remains on celebrating Chinatown as an active neighbourhood while supporting small businesses, artists, and community-led cultural spaces.
Throughout February, Taste of Chinatown expands through in-store and online collaborations. Foo Hung Curios launches a Lunar New Year red wine pop-up with Haywire Winery on January 13. Limited-edition Foo Hung Curios x Chairman Ting sweatshirts created with lululemon debut February 6, with proceeds supporting Chinatown Storytelling Centre programs. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver partners with the Centre on a Lunar New Year Afternoon Tea at Notch8 running January 9 to February 22, featuring Gold Mountain tea and complimentary admission to the Centre. Foo Hung Curios also hosts a pop-up at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Lunar New Year Day, February 17. A Chinatown Storytelling Centre pop-up presented by Metrotown runs at Metropolis in Metrotown from February 2 to March 3.
Taste of Chinatown officially launches on February 6 with the Chinatown Cocktail Showdown, a ticketed evening event held at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. Sponsored by Suntory Global Spirits, the event brings together eight Chinatown bars and restaurants, including Bagheera, Bao Bei, Chickadee, Fiorino, Keefer Bar, Kissa Tanto, Laowai, and Meo. Each venue presents a Lunar New Year-inspired cocktail, with guests voting for a favourite alongside a judges’ selection announced at the end of the night.
Creative programming continues on February 15 with Sip & Paint: Lunar New Year Edition. Led by Vancouver artist Justine Crawford, the guided workshop invites participants to create a Lunar New Year-inspired lantern while enjoying a curated selection from Haywire Winery.
Family programming follows on February 16 with Family Day: The Art of Fai Cheun. The drop-in workshop introduces the tradition of Fai Cheun through handwritten calligraphy blessings intended to welcome abundance, harmony, and good fortune for the year ahead.
Mahjong Parlour Night takes place on February 20, inviting guests to play, watch, or learn the game, reflecting Mahjong’s role as a social tradition within Chinatown.
The celebration concludes on February 22 with Year of the Horse: Red Envelopes & Candy Tasting. The all-day drop-in event features red envelope crafting and candy tasting, with Daan Go Cake Lab hosting a pop-up on site and MasterChef Canada winner Chris Siu in attendance.
Taste of Chinatown continues to position the Chinatown Storytelling Centre as a focal point for Lunar New Year programming in Vancouver, connecting food, tradition, and contemporary community experiences across the neighbourhood.