Lunar New Year celebrations are taking over Metropolis at Metrotown! Starting January 13 and running through February 16, 2025, 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:
*New* Asian cuisine takes centre stage at Chef Series
With food an integral element of Lunar New Year celebrations, Metropolis at Metrotown has invited some of BC’s top chefs to demonstrate their techniques at the first-ever Chef Series (February 2 and 9). 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. 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 was 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 (February 1) will come alive in the Grand Court. 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.
*New* Learn the Lion Dance’s heart-pumping moves
New this year, Metropolis at Metrotown 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). “We are thrilled to commemorate the Year of the Snake by inviting people of all cultural backgrounds to usher in a lucky, joyous, and prosperous new year,” said Amanda Chung, marketing manager. “A hub of cultural celebrations, Metropolis at Metrotown has elevated this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations with the new Chef Series event and ‘Learn How to Lion Dance’ workshop, in addition to returning favourites like craft-making and colourful décor. Our doors are open to anyone who celebrates Lunar New Year or is eager to join the fun and learn about this important tradition.”
Lunar New Year celebrations at Metropolis at Metrotown run from January 13 – February 16, 2025. The shopping centre is open Monday to Saturday, 10am – 9pm, and Sunday, 11am – 7pm.
