Back for another thrilling year, Light Up Chinatown! is a free family-friendly weekend street festival in one of Vancouver's most vibrant neighbourhoods - and it's packed with tantalizing food and drink options.
Taking place Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25, Light Up Chinatown! brings together the community's residents and businesses to showcase the historic neighbourhood for everyone to enjoy. One of North America's most storied Chinatowns, the area's bustling streets will come alive over the weekend with live entertainment, history and heritage, and all sorts of exciting food specials - including a special cocktail from an award-winning Vancouver speakeasy that calls Chinatown home.
Light Up Chinatown! is known for its annual food collaborations, bringing together culinary giants for exciting mash-ups. This year you can try to get your hands on the coveted Peking Duck Croissant from Beaucoup Bakery x Chinatown BBQ, a Yellow Curry Brisket Bao from Kam Wai Dim Sum x Memphis Blues BBQ, or the Yin Yang Egg Custard Tea (meets Vietnamese coffee) from DD Mau x Boss Bakery. Chinatown's beloved Mello will be teaming up with Salt for a special donut, too.
Vancouver's elusive speakeasy, Laowai, will be serving up festival cocktail, too.
As an exciting new element to this year's Light Up Chinatown, 10 of the city's top chefs will have special dishes as part of the event, available exclusively through the ticketed Hawkers Lane section of the event. The tasting menus are pre-sold in sets of five dishes, with two sets available: The Premiere and The Exclusive.
Inspired by street food, the Hawkers Lane dishes include items like Juke's Fried Chicken Skewer with a deep-fried boneless chicken thing with a soy glaze, mayo, and herbs, DD Mau's addictive cold chicken noodles with lime leaf tossed in a soy vinaigrette, or Bao Bei's Shao Bing Ice Cream Sandwich (made with Cadeaux Bakery's coconut ice cream).
These exclusive $50 set menus are available by pre-order only, so anyone looking to get a taste should plan ahead and purchase tickets online. Limited single-item orders may be available day-of.
“The Premiere” Menu is available from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and includes the following:
- BBQ Rib Sandwich by Roger Ma from Boulevard Kitchen
- Shao Bing Ice Cream Sandwich by Alain Chow from Bao Bei Brasserie
- Mama's Curry Fish Balls by Sharon Chan from Mama in the Kitchen
- Fried Chicken Skewers by Clay Yen from Juke Fried Chicken & Ribs
- Sustainable Seafood Skewers by Will Lew from Pacific Reach
“The Encore” Menu is available from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday and includes the following:
- Tuna Tartare by Brandon Grossutti & Wesley Young from PiDGiN
- Corned Beef Sandwich by Sean Heather, The Irish Heather
- Shrimp Toast on Youtiao by William Liu from Kam Wai Dim Sum
- Pho ga Tron by Kim Tran from DD Mau
- Pork Kinilaw by Mark Singson from MabuhayYVR
Video: Getting a taste of the food and drinks of Light Up Chinatown! 2024
@forkingawesomevia One of Vancouver’s most vibrant neighborhoods will welcome everyone all weekend on August 24-25, 2024 for a free family friendly street festival. Light Up Chinatown showcases the heritage, culture and deliciousness of the historic neighbourhood. Here are a few exciting food and drink offerings to look forward to. #forkingawesome #vancouverbc ♬ Beautiful Day - Tundra Beats
Light Up Chinatown! 2024
When: Sat. Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sun. Aug. 25 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 500-block Columbia Street (Chinatown, Vancouver)
Cost: Festival admission is FREE. Merchandise and food are available for purchase at the event (while supplies last). Hawkers Lane five-dish set menus must be pre-purchased online.
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