Now in its fourth year, Vancouver’s Light Up Chinatown! Festival is set to return to the city’s historic neighbourhood for two days of delicious eats, live music, and community connection this August. So get ready to mark your calendars!

The free-to-enter festival is all about celebrating the cultural heritage of Chinatown through bringing together esteemed restauranteurs and chefs from across the city – so make sure you come to the festival ready to eat.

New this year are Hawker’s Lane-style kiosks, serving 10 exclusive street food dishes by renowned local chefs with a special connection to the neighbourhood.

Pre-sold in sets of five tickets, visitors can sample these unique bites created by the following chefs:

  • Roger Ma of Boulevard Kitchen
  • Brandon Grossutti and Wesley Young of Pidgin
  • Will Lew of Pacific Reach
  • Clay Yen of Juke Fried Chicken
  • Sharon Chan of Mama in the KItchen
  • Kim Tran of DD Mau
  • Sean Heather of Irish Heather
  • Mark Singston of Mabuhay
  • William Liu of Kam Wai Dim Sum
  • Alain Chow of Bao Bei

Returning food collaborations this year include Chinatown BBQ x Beaucoup Bakery, DD Mau x Boss Bakery, Foo Hung Curios x Hype Chocolate, Kam Wai Dim Sum x Memphis Blues BBQ House, Mello x Salt, Treasure Green Tea Company, and Tall Shadow Bakery.

Festival-goers can sample it all through this year’s Passport Program, which guides them through the area to collect stamps from local businesses.

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light up chinatown vancouver 2024
Photo via Light Up Chinatown!

Light Up Chinatown! is presented by RBC and co-hosted by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, along with several other local associations.

The event will take place at 500 Columbia Street and neighbouring streets in Chinatown from 11 am to 9 pm on Saturday, August 24th and from 11 am to 6 pm on Sunday, August 25th.

So there you have it, Vancouver. Get ready to see the glowing lights and lanterns of the festival light up the skies!

Light Up Chinatown!

When: Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th
Where: 500 block of Columbia Street
Cost: Free admission

Isabelle Vauclair

Staff Writer, Vancouver – Isabelle is a West Coast native with an appreciation for Vancouver’s natural landscape, patio scene, and community spaces. She loves to discover new hidden gems in her neighbourhood and share them with readers across the city.

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