Welcome the Lunar New Year in Vancouver with Metropolis at Metrotown

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Lunar New Year celebrations are taking over Metropolis at Metrotown! Starting January 13 and running through February 16, BC’s largest shopping centre will welcome the Year of the Snake with its first-ever Chef Series, a new lion dance workshop, free cultural workshops, and more.

Here are the highlights of Lunar New Year at Metropolis at Metrotown.

Asian cuisine takes centre stage at Chef Series 

With food an integral element of Lunar New Year celebrations, Metropolis has invited some of BC’s top chefs to demonstrate their techniques at the first-ever Chef Series on February 2nd and 9th. Each chef will take to the stage in the Grand Court to share dishes representing their heritage and culinary philosophy, exploring the ways food contributes to memorable Lunar New Year traditions. Some of the confirmed chefs include: 

  • Quang Dang, who has Vietnamese and Scottish heritage. Formerly the executive chef of award-winning West Restaurant and D.I.C.E.D., a culinary social enterprise organization, he is now proprietor of QD Catering & Hospitality. 
  • Katy Cheung, who was born in Vancouver and raised in Hong Kong. She has been a sous chef for over five years at MICHELIN Starred Burdock & Co.
  • Chanthy Yen, who is originally from Cambodia. In addition to working at some of the world’s best restaurants, he served as personal chef to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and is the 2024 winner of Top Chef Canada. Chanthy is currently the executive chef at Bacaro.
  • Haan Palcu-Chang, who is a Taiwanese-Romanian chef from Toronto. Haan recently appeared on the 2024 season of Top Chef Canada. He currently lives on Salt Spring Island, where he runs cooking workshops, caters private dinners and events, and runs many food-related initiatives.

Watch a traditional Lion Dance

Once again, a colourful Lion Dance will come alive in the Grand Court on February 1st. The dancers will split into two teams to parade throughout the centre, chasing away evil with their lively music. Throughout the performance, the God of Fortune will hand out red envelopes to lucky shoppers, each containing various food offers.

Learn the Lion Dance’s heart-pumping moves

New this year, Metropolis will host a “Learn How to Lion Dance” workshop (February 1, 11:30am – 12:30pm), presented by Bak Mei Kung Fu and Lion Dance, a local business that teaches traditional kung fu and Foshan-style lion dancing to students of all ages. Taking place in the Grand Court, the workshop is rooted in martial arts movements with fitness-forward lion dance moves. Participants of all skill levels are invited to join.

Cultural workshops focus on abacus, family trees, and lantern-cutting

The Chinese Canadian Museum will contribute to Lunar New Year celebrations with a series of free educational workshops (February 6-9, 12pm – 4pm). Activities include an abacus learning station, family tree colouring sheets, lantern-cutting, and opportunities to practice Chinese phrases. The workshops will take place on the ground level of Metropolis at Metrotown, near Fossil. Local artists will also join the celebrations to lead craft-making workshops, including Chinese lantern making (by folding red pockets into origami and calligraphy (February 1, 11am – 3pm).

Marvel at stunning Lunar New Year décor

Eye-popping décor by local artists at the Lazy Wizard ensures plenty of photo opportunities across the shopping centre. From the Grand Court to the fountains, lucky Lunar New Year installations abound featuring the transformative snake.


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