Burnaby is celebrating the Year of the Horse this weekend, with many ways to bring in the Chinese New Year. However, for those looking for other sorts of events, there is plenty going on as we head into February. We’re continuing with our popular feature – our staff’s Top 5 (Or More) Things To Do This Weekend. Here’s our Top 5 list for Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.
1 Get celebrating the Chinese New Year on Friday at the McGill branch of the Burnaby Public Library at 4595 Albert St. The library is hosting the event at 3 p.m. in honour of the year of the wood horse in the Chinese Zodiac. The Burnaby International Folk Dancers will be on hand to perform in honour of the occasion and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome to this free event. No registration is required.
2 Get on the ice to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Friday from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. at the Kensington Recreation Complex at 6159 Curtis St. The event includes ice skating, face painting, crafts and games. Regular admission and rental rates apply.
3 Get saying Gung Hei Fat Choy along with the Heights Merchants Association on Saturday from noon to 2:30 p.m. The association is ringing in the Year of the Horse along Hastings Street with music and dance, including lion dancers performing special blessings to bring luck and prosperity to Heights businesses. Lion dancers will hand out fortune cookies and red envelopes, with special messages and chances to win prizes inside. Also on Saturday, Lougheed Town Centre is holding its Chinese New Year celebration. There will be a Korean drum parade at 10:30 a.m., Korean performances at centre court at 10:40 a.m., a Chinese lion dance at noon, and the lion will bless the retailers at 12:30 p.m.
4 Get learning about Japanese folklore and popular customs at a talk by SFU professor Jan Walls at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres., on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m. The talk is specifically on folklore and customs appearing in the Ukiyoe Spectacular: Japanese Woodblock Prints exhibit. The centre is co-hosting the exhibit of more than 100 woodblocks with the West Vancouver Museum. For more information, go to centre.nikkeiplace.org/ukiyoe-spectacular.
5 Get cultured at the Burnaby Art Gallery’s free family Sunday program, with an interactive hands-on activity connected to the First Nations and Inuit prints exhibition. The free drop-in program takes place on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. The gallery is located at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. For more info, go to www.burnabyartgallery.ca.
Email Top 5 ideas to [email protected]. You can also check out our arts and events calendar listings at www.burnabynow.com.
– Compiled by staff reporter Janaya Fuller-Evans
