Cock-a-doodle-doo! It’s almost the year of the rooster in the lunar calendar.

The Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival in China, is this Saturday, January 28 and there are lots of activities around the region to ring in this new year.

One of the bigger celebrations is in Richmond at the Aberdeen Centre which boasts the largest Chinese New Year celebration in North America and is easily accessed from the Canada Line!

The events at Aberdeen are already underway with the Chinese New Year Flower and gift fair. Next up is the countdown on Friday then the Golden Dragon and Lion dance on Saturday.

For more Chinese New Year fun, head to Lonsdale Quay on the North Shore, a special Chinese New Year dinner at the Cloverdale Rec Centre in Surrey or check out FlyOver Canada’s special showing of Flight of the Dragon at Canada Place until February 26.

Another popular celebration is the 44th Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival Parade at 11 a.m. on Sunday, January 29.

From 5 a.m. until 4 p.m., Pender, Carrall, Columbia and Gore will be closed.

The following bus detours will apply to allow for the parade route:

5 a.m. to 4 p.m.

50 Waterfront Regular route to temporary terminus on Cambie & Pender.
50 False Creek From temporary terminus on Cambie at Pender via Cambie, Georgia, Seymour, Cordova, regular route.

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

23 Davie Regular route to Quebec & Expo Blvd then Expo Blvd regular route.
23 Main Regular route to Pacific Blvd & Abbott then Pacific Blvd regular route.
210 Vancouver Regular route to Powell & Main, then via Powell, Water, Cordova, Howe, regular route.
211 Vancouver Regular route to Powell & Main, then via Powell, Water, Cordova, Howe, regular route.
3 Downtown Regular route to Main & Dunsmuir Viaduct, then via Dunsmuir, Homer, Hastings, regular route.
3 Main Regular route to Cordova & Cambie, then via Cambie, Georgia, Main, regular route.
4 UBC Regular route to Main & Hastings then via Hastings, Granville, regular route.
7 Dunbar Regular route to Main & Hastings then via Hastings, Granville, regular route.
8 Downtown Regular route to Main & Dunsmuir Viaduct, then via Dunsmuir, Homer, Hastings, regular route.
8 Fraser Regular route to Cordova & Cambie, then via Cambie, Georgia, Main, regular route.
19 Metrotown Regular route to Pender & Cambie then via Cambie, Georgia, Georgia Viaduct Main, regular route.
19 Stanley Park Regular route to Main & Dunsmuir Viaduct, then via Dunsmuir, Homer, Hastings, regular route.
22 Knight Regular route to Pender & Cambie then via Cambie, Georgia, Georgia Viaduct, Prior, regular route.
22 Downtown Regular route to Prior & Gore then via Prior, Dunsmuir Viaduct, Dunsmuir Homer, Pender, regular route.

For more information including bus detours maps, visit translink.ca/alerts.

Kung Hei Fat Choi!!

Author: Adrienne Coling