Festivities welcome Year of the Dog
Family-friendly events across the GTA span several days
When the clock strikes 12 tonight, it will be the Year of the Dog. Looking for ways to celebrate? There are plenty of family-friendly festivities happening around the GTA.
Take the kids to the Toronto Public Library Several branches of the library across the city are offering Chinese New Year activities for kids and their families, including PA Day drop-ins. Check the Toronto Public Library website, torontopubliclibrary.ca for branch details.
Explore the revelry at Pacific Mall Pacific Mall in Markham plays host to a days-long celebration of Chinese New Year, beginning with a countdown bash featuring special guest William Chak, a Hong Kong celebrity. The festivities continue until Feb. 24, with live concerts and lion dance performances.
Celebrate in Chinatown Celebrations will take over Dragon City Mall and Chinatown Centre, both on Spadina Ave., on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Come to learn about Chinese culture and New Year traditions, participate in games and activities, and watch the lion dance and fortune-telling performances.
Head to LunarFest on Family Day On Family Day, the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga will welcome Chinese New Year revellers of all ages for a day of arts, crafts, games and performances.
Admission to the event, which runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is free.
Attend a Toronto Symphony Orchestra performance The TSO is celebrating the Year of the Dog with a special concert. Featuring performances by Adrian Anantawan (violin), Xiaoqiu Lin (erhu, or Chinese violin) and Wen Zhao (pipa, or the Chinese lute), the event includes music of both Chinese and Western origin, as well as performances by lion dancers from Toronto’s Wushu Project. Come early to see Lin and the lion dancers in a lobby show before the stage performance begins. The concert is Feb. 24 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., at Roy Thomson Hall.
Take in the lanterns at the Markville Shopping Centre The mall’s centre court will be transformed into a large-scale display of dazzling Chinese lanterns. At 3 p.m. on Saturday, shoppers will be treated to cultural experiences that include a traditional lion dance and an eyedotting ceremony. The God of Fortune will be in attendance, handing out lucky red packets containing a chocolate coin as a symbol of well wishes and good luck.
Spend the morning at Markham Public Library Pop into the Markham library’s Milliken Mills branch for a morning of cultural performances, martial-art demonstrations, face painting, crafts and more. It all unfolds Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Attend services at the Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto The Buddhist temple in Mississauga will host special Chinese New Year services, beginning with a New Year’s Eve chanting service from 8-9:30 p.m. today. Also on the schedule: incense offerings and the ringing of the peace bell. For exact dates and times, please visit the website.
Enjoy dumplings Dumplings are traditionally a musthave item on Chinese New Year menus; families prepare and eat them when the clock strikes 12 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Dumplings are thought to symbolize wealth and longevity. They are, of course, delicious on any day of the year, but consider Chinese New Year an especially good reason to eat them. Try them from Mother’s Dumplings (421 Spadina Ave.), Northern Dumpling Kitchen (550 Highway 7 E., Richmond Hill), or The Dumpling King (3290 Midland Ave., Scarborough).