Chinese Canadian Museum Ushers in the Year of the Horse with a Festive Lunar New Year Weekend

The Goods from the Chinese Canadian Museum

Vancouver, BC | This Lunar New Year, usher in the Year of the Horse at the Chinese Canadian Museum, where guests of all-ages are invited to experience a festive weekend of family-friendly programming on Saturday, February 21 and Sunday, February 22, 2026. Highlights include drop-in crafting, treats tasting, live performances of the audio play Bun Fun New Year by artist collective Five Blessings, and a special hands-on Prosperity Salad cooking workshop with chef-educator Christopher Leow. Tickets to the museum can be purchased online or in-person at 51 E Pender Street.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Saturday, February 21, 2026

10 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Treat Tasting: Tray of Togetherness
Sample some beloved Chinese candies and treats that are enjoyed during the New Year and learn about the symbolism behind items in the traditional Chinese “Tray of Togetherness” (新年全盒).

Drop-in Crafts: Pencil Ponies
Celebrate the Chinese zodiac animal of 2026 – the Horse – by crafting a lucky pony topper for your very own CCM pencil to take home!

Audio Play Performance: Bun Fun New Year
(English — 11:30 A.M. | Cantonese — 1:30 P.M.)
This special audio play performance features Five Blessings Collective, who will provide an audio play performance with tales from bunny friends at the Bao household. In the midst of preparing for the special family feast, twinned bunnies Bunnifer and Bunnithy learn the true meaning of new year festivities and a couple of interesting recipes along the way.

1 P.M & 3 P.M. | Dream Factory Curator’s Tour (English)
(English — 1 P.M. | Cantonese — 3 P.M.)
Join curators Dr. Melissa Karmen Lee, Yilin Chen, and Bofei Zhang for a special walkthrough of our feature exhibition, Dream Factory: Cantopop Mandopop 1980s–2000s. This immersive, multimedia experience celebrates the golden age of Cantonese and Mandarin pop music and its lasting influence on generations of Chinese Canadians. Discover a uniquely Chinese Canadian pop culture history through the lens of this vibrant era, brought to life by the exhibition’s curatorial team.

Sunday, February 22, 2026

10 A.M. to 5 P.M.
Treat Tasting: Tray of Togetherness

12 P.M. to 1 P.M. | 3 P.M to 4 P.M.
Cooking Workshop: Lunar New Year Prosperity Salad*
Led by chef-educator Christopher Leow, this hands-on workshop explores Yu Sheng (撈起魚生), a symbolic Lunar New Year dish from Singapore and Malaysia. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about its cultural significance, help prepare the ingredients, and join the joyful tradition of tossing the salad while sharing auspicious wishes for the year ahead.
*Cooking Workshop fee is $5+GST per participant. Registration available here.

1 P.M. to 4 P.M.
Drop-in Workshop: Lunar New Year Couplets with Bagua Artist Association
Each year, Bagua Art Association creates its own hand-carved linocut Spring Couplets (Cantonese: 揮春 Fai Chun / Mandarin: 春聯 Chun Lian) as part of its Lunar New Year tradition. Participants can join the artist duo for a drop-in workshop to print their own Spring Couplets for the Year of the Fire Horse, using original designs and hand-carved lino blocks featuring auspicious phrases and motifs. Participants can mix and match blocks to create custom combinations and will be guided through the printing process on traditional red paper to take home.

1 P.M & 3 P.M. | Dream Factory Curator’s Tour (English)
(English — 1 P.M. | Mandarin — 3 P.M.)

In addition to the special activities, Chinese Canadian Museum’s gift shop, 1889 Trading Co., has launched a variety of Lunar New Year gifts, including an exclusive Chinese Zodiac Rubik’s Cube, Chinese Canadian Museum Year of the Horse Red Pocket for lucky money traditions, 200 Pieces Welcoming Lunar New Year Jigsaw Puzzle by Arcadia Puzzles, books, and more.

For information about the Chinese Canadian Museum’s current exhibitions and events, please visit chinesecanadianmuseum.ca.