The 5th annual Light Up Chinatown! festival returns on August 16–17, 2025, transforming Vancouver’s historic 500-block of Columbia Street into a vibrant two-day celebration of food, culture, and community. Presented by RBC and produced by the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, this free event offers a unique opportunity to explore the culinary heritage of Chinatown with exclusive food collaborations and street-style bites.
Event details:
AUGUST 16 & 17, 2025
SATURDAY: 11 AM – 9 PM
Light Up Chinatown 2025 – Limited-Edition Collaborations
Vancouver Chinatown Foundation
Vancouver Chinatown Foundation
Experience exclusive culinary creations from iconic establishments both within and beyond Chinatown:
- Beaucoup Bakery x Chinatown BBQ: The Golden Rooster Croissant: A flaky scallion butter croissant filled with tender soy-marinated chicken from Chinatown BBQ. Paired with a fragrant ginger-scallion sauce, and a sweet soy BBQ glaze. Available at Chinatown BBQ (130 E Pender St) from 2:00 PM until sold out on August 16–17.
- Foo Hung Curios x Daan Go Cake Lab: White Rabbit Mochi Nest: A delicate, crispy laminated pastry nest filled with soft milk mochi and silky mascarpone flan. Topped with White Rabbit cream and finished with an edible White Rabbit candy wrapper. Available at Foo Hung Curios (168 E Pender St) from 12:00 PM until sold out on August 16–17.
- Juke Fried Chicken x Say Hey Cafe: Spicy Fried Chicken Hoagie: Juke’s signature fried chicken thigh dressed in Lao Gan Ma on a toasted Say Hey sesame seed hoagie. Finished with cherry tomato, basil, red onion salad, and crispy parm shallots. Available at Juke Fried Chicken (182 Keefer St) from 11:00 AM until sold out on August 16–17.
Light Up Chinatown – Hawker’s Lane Street Food
A can’t miss experience from Light Up Chinatown is the Hawker’s Lane Street Food. Immerse yourself in the bustling energy of Asia’s night markets with bold, street-style bites from seven of Vancouver’s top restaurants. I got a sneak preview of some of the items from DD Mau, Golden Smell Mee and Holy Duck Chili x Ember HK BBQ and I can confirm that the dishes are delicious. All of these vendors are personal favourites for me, and I highly recommend you check them out.
| Saturday, Aug 16 Menu | Sunday, Aug 17 Menu |
| DD Mau Phở Cuốn: Northern Vietnamese rice rolls with sautéed beef, lemongrass-chili saté, herbs, crispy shallots, and tangy nước chấm. (Vegan option available.) | Same as Saturday |
| Golden Smell Mee Beef and Chicken Satay Skewers: $10 for 3; $18 for 6 Curry Puff: $5 for 1 Spring Rolls: $13 Roti with Curry Dip: $11 | Same as Saturday |
| Holy Duck Chili x Ember HK BBQ Bowl Cut Noodle Bar Chili Oil Noodles $8 With: 1 topping $11 / 2 toppings $13 / 3 toppings $15 Gong Zai Mein / Spaghetti / Vermicelli Toppings by Ember HK BBQ: Saucy: HK Bolognese / Spiced Pork Cubes / Peanut Satay Pork Meaty: Spot Prawn Chili Mince / Canto BBQ Pork / Typhoon Shelter Pork Belly | Same as Saturday |
| Torafuku Beef Rendang Taco: $8.50, served with green sambal emulsion, pickled red onion, mixed herbs, and crispy shallots. | Potluck Hawker Potluck Chicken Wings $12 Half pound of crispy chicken wings, glazed with fish sauce caramel, toasted sesame and fried shallots. Corn Ribs $8 Deep fried, larb seasoning, sawtooth herb, lime |
| William Lew & Mama in the Kitchen Salted Egg Yolk Pork Belly: $14 Typhoon Shelter Calamari: $12 Mama Curry Fish Balls & XO Shu Mai: $9.50 Chili Spice Chicharrons: $5. | Street Hawker Black Pepper Smashburger $12 Served with Two Rivers grass-fed beef with tamago, melted cheese, pickles, kewpie and black pepper sauce. Chinatown Tots $8 Black pepper sauce, cheese sauce, furikake |
Worth a Visit?
Absolutely! Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Light Up Chinatown offers a unique chance to experience Vancouver’s diverse culinary traditions and vibrant culture. The festival features live performances, including traditional lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, and music acts. Plus, there’s a dedicated kids’ zone for family-friendly fun. Don’t miss this unforgettable experience of food, culture, and community. Plan your visit now and explore the best of Vancouver’s Chinatown!
For more information and to plan your visit, please visit the official festival website: www.lightupchinatown.ca.
How To Get to Light Up Chinatown 2025
There are several ways of getting to the Festival. To save yourself the headache of finding parking and driving, I highly suggest taking public transportation.
- SkyTrain: 10-minute walk from Stadium-Chinatown or Main Street-Science World stations
- Bus: Routes 19, 22, 3, and 8 stop at Pender and Main Streets
- Parking: EasyPark lot at 106 Keefer Street; metered street parking available