LunarFest Vancouver celebrates the Year of the Rabbit

A month of celebrations of the lunar new year celebrating the Year of the Rabbit kicks off next weekend in downtown Vancouver.

Founded in 2009 in the lead-up to the Winter Olympics, LunarFest Vancouver is said to be the largest festival of its kind in Canada.

Organizer Charlie Wu says it’s all about getting together with family and starting fresh in the new year. “Ultimately, it is about making sure every loved one is in good health and spirit,” said Wu, managing director of the Asian-Canadian Special Events Association, in a release.

One of the traditions is for children from Vancouver and Taiwan sharing the lunar new year through lanterns, in an outdoor installation now known as the Lantern City.

Three sites will feature local and international artists on giant, totem-like lanterns. “Bringing communities together in deeper conversations via art and storytelling has been really powerful in shaping the new way Vancouver commemorates (the lunar new year),” said Wu.