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Description
- When: Sunday, September 27, 2026 | 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Where: Chinatown Memorial Plaza, Vancouver, BC
- Cost: Free, all ages welcome
- Hosted by: Hakka House
The inaugural Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Ritual & Cultural Festival brings a newly created Hakka fire dragon tradition to Vancouver's Chinatown Memorial Plaza. Built collectively by the community and led by Jin He, the youth fire dragon is crafted from plants sourced on Coast Salish Indigenous lands alongside herbs and plants meaningful to Hakka and Chinese medicinal traditions. Its body carries lanterns adorned with community well wishes and stories.
What to Expect
Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Storytelling
The origin story of the fire dragon, woven together from stories shared by the community.
Hakka Blessing & Incense Ritual
A ceremony honouring the dragon, the community, and ancestors.
Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Dance
An opportunity for the public to dance the youth fire dragon and bring it to life.
Community Performances
- Opening by Hakka kirin dance troupe 麒麟革命 Kirin Rising
- Singing by Hakka elders Linda Zhang and Sean Gunn
- Hakka poetry by Melody Yun Ya Ma
- Hakka mountain song pipa performance by Zoe Leung
- Dance performance by Sunshine Seniors
Hakka Living Library
Share personal Hakka stories and contribute to a growing collection of community memory.
Lantern Decorating
Decorate a lantern with a personal Hakka story or well wishes to be carried on the fire dragon.
Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Merchandise
T-shirts and totes featuring Rachel Kara Lin's original youth fire dragon illustration will be available for purchase.
Tea and refreshments will also be provided.
Build the Hakka Youth Fire Dragon — Pre-Event Workshops
A series of workshops runs through August and September at Hakka House (103A-180 Keefer St, Chinatown Plaza Mall), 2:30–5:00 PM, all ages welcome:
- Sunday, August 16 — Hakka story sharing
- Saturday, August 22 — Hakka hill song listening
- Saturday, August 29 — Hakka elder storytelling
- Saturday, September 5 — Hakka film watching
- Sunday, September 13 — Hakka blessing learning
- Sunday, September 20 — Hakka opera listening
Decorate Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Lanterns
Lantern decorating sessions run September 5, 13, and 20, 2:30–5:00 PM, at Hakka House. Participants can leave their Hakka impressions or stories on a lantern to be carried by the fire dragon during the festival.
Fire Dragon Library
Visitors can explore the Fire Dragon Library to learn about fire dragon traditions from around the world.
Supported By
麒麟革命 Kirin Rising, 客家 HAKKA HOUSE, 華人尊嚴會 Foundation for Chinese Dignity, the City of Vancouver, and Neighbourhood Small Grants.
Plan Your Visit
- Event: Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Ritual & Cultural Festival
- Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Time: 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Location: Chinatown Memorial Plaza, Vancouver, BC
- Admission: Free, all ages
- Website: hakkahouse.org/youthfiredragon
From community-built lanterns to a dragon crafted with plants from Coast Salish lands and Hakka medicinal tradition, this inaugural festival brings a brand-new cultural ritual to Chinatown — free, community-made, and open to everyone who wants to dance the dragon to life.