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Description
- When: Friday, September 18 – Saturday, September 19, 2026 | Main Ceremony & Parade: Saturday, September 19, 7:00 PM
- Where: Vancouver's Chinatown, main parade at 578 Carrall St
- Cost: Free; registration required for select workshops
- Hosted by: Fire Dragon Festival
The Fire Dragon Festival returns to Vancouver's Chinatown, bringing the community together through celebration, cultural performances, culinary exploration, and the preservation of intangible heritage. The festival aims to build a lasting community tradition that strengthens awareness and education about Chinatown's cultural legacy for years to come.
The Legend of the Fire Dragon
The Fire Dragon Dance traces its origins to Tai Hang, Hong Kong, more than a hundred years ago. After a storm struck Pok Fu Lam Village, a snake attacked and disrupted the village's peace. Villagers killed the snake, but in the days that followed, a plague broke out. A village elder claimed Buddha appeared to him in a dream, instructing that a fire dragon dance be performed around the village for three days and three nights to end the misfortune. The villagers did so, and the plague miraculously lifted — beginning the tradition of the Fire Dragon. Today, the Fire Dragon Dance remains the centerpiece of Mid-Autumn celebrations in Pok Fu Lam and a traditional custom of the Hakka ethnic group.
Pre-Event Festivities (August–September 2026)
Help Build the Fire Dragon
Sessions run 2:00–5:00 PM, hosted by the NOW Society at 8East (8 East Pender Street), featuring artists in residence Bagua Artist Association and Steven Dragonn 沙甸鹹水埠. Dates TBD.
Artist and Community Workshops
Chinatown Plaza Mall (180 Keefer St.), 11:00 AM–5:00 PM. Join local artists and community groups for an afternoon of hands-on art and culture, with pieces to take home and merch supporting local artists. Available workshops include:
- Make a Legendary Dragon Puppet
- Make an Upcycled Embroidery Design
- Dreaming About Home: A Collaging Workshop
- Chinatown Community Visioning Collage
- Make a Ceramic Mooncake Incense Holder
- Paint a Beautiful Watercolour Dragon
- Beaded Dragon Charm Workshop
- Learn Traditional Lion Dance and Kung Fu
- Reclaimed Leather Keychain or Earring Making
- Fruit Sticker/Bookmark Collage
Full workshop details and registration links available at firedragonfestival.com.
Meet the Artists & Add Incense to the Dragon
Date and location TBD. Meet artists in residence Bagua Artist Association, Steven Dragonn, and Sifu Michael Tan from Chau Luen Athletics, with a chance to ask questions about the dragon's construction and insert incense as part of the tradition.
Ceremony and Main Parade
Saturday, September 19, 7:00 PM | 578 Carrall St
The main event sees the Fire Dragon, glowing with embers, wind its way through the streets of Chinatown to the beat of live drums. The evening includes:
- A traditional Indigenous welcome
- Eye-dotting ceremony of the Fire Dragon
- The main Fire Dragon parade, led by Chau Luen Athletics
Plan Your Visit
- Event: Fire Dragon Festival
- Date: September 18–19, 2026
- Time: Main parade Saturday, September 19, 7:00 PM (pre-event workshops throughout August–September)
- Location: Vancouver's Chinatown; main parade at 578 Carrall St
- Admission: Free; registration required for select workshops
- Website: firedragonfestival.com
From dragon-building workshops to a glowing nighttime parade through Chinatown, the Fire Dragon Festival brings a century-old tradition to Vancouver's streets — free to attend and rooted in a legend of community resilience.
