Girls dance at the Chinatown Lunar New Year parade

Celebrate the Year of the Snake with the 51st Annual Spring Festival Parade in historic Chinatown

Road Closures for Chinatown and Downtown on Sunday, February 2

January 30 2025 –

Many Asian communities throughout Vancouver will celebrate the start of the Lunar New Year and usher in the Year of the Snake with lively festivities and cultural traditions. For those eager to join in the celebration, the 51st Annual Chinatown Spring Festival Parade will take place on February 2 in the city’s historic Chinatown district.

“Lunar New Year is not just about keeping traditions alive—it’s about bringing the community together to celebrate our diversity," said Mayor Ken Sim. "I invite everyone to join in, support local businesses and celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake in Vancouver’s incredible Chinatown neighbourhood.”  

The Spring Festival Parade is just one of the many annual events that contribute to Chinatown’s vibrancy. In June 2024, Vancouver City Council approved the Chinatown Cultural District Framework (9 MB) to guide the City’s ongoing efforts to revitalize economic and community development in Chinatown.

Attending the parade 

To help ensure the parade operates as smoothly as possible, attendees are encouraged to: 

  • Walk, bike, roll, or take transit whenever possible. 
  • Stay ahead of road closures. 
  • Put waste in its place: dispose of waste in the nearest garbage, recycling or organics bin. Additional waste bins will be added for the events. 
  • Be considerate of the neighbourhood and keep noise to a minimum when leaving. 

With cold temperatures and potential snow expected this weekend, be sure to dress warmly, drive for the conditions, and allow extra time to reach your destination. 

Parade route 

The parade begins at 11 am on February 2, 2025 and will last approximately three hours. The 1.3 km route starts at the Millennium Gate on Pender Street (between Shanghai Alley and Taylor Street), proceeds east along Pender, turns south onto Gore Street, turns west onto Keefer Street, and then ends on Keefer at Carrall Street. 

View a map of the parade route (755 KB)  

Traffic impacts 

To accommodate the parade, road closures will be in effect on Sunday, February 2, 2025 between 8 am and 5 pm on sections of the following streets: 

  • Main Street 
  • Pender Street (East and West) 
  • Beatty Street 
  • Abbott Street 
  • Taylor Street 
  • Shanghai Alley 
  • Columbia Street 
  • Quebec Street 
  • Carrall Street 
  • Keefer Street 
  • Keefer Place 
  • East Georgia Street 
  • Gore Avenue 

Alleys in the parade area will also be closed, including access to private parkades. Residents of Taylor Street and Shanghai Alley will have vehicular access to Keefer Place, westbound only. 

Tips and resources 

If you are travelling in and around the event areas:

For more information on the Chinatown Spring Festival Parade, visit the event organizers website .