VANCOUVER, July 25, 2012 /CNW/ - The Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society (VCBIA) today announced the exciting line‐up of activities at this summer's TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival in Vancouver's historic Chinatown at the 100 block of Keefer Street and 500-block of Columbia Street. The TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival is the largest summer multicultural event that attracted about 60,000 attendees last year. Over 300 energetic volunteers will help deliver a dynamic and exciting two‐day festival August 11-12.
"TD Bank Group is very proud to again partner with the VCBIA to be the title sponsor of this much anticipated community event" said Chuck Tsui, Business Development Manager, TD Waterhouse. "Celebrating diversity and the Chinese community is important to TD and supporting events like the TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival demonstrates our commitment."
This year's festival theme is "Hello Dragon-Ni Hao" (a welcome greeting in Chinese) to celebrate the Year of the Dragon. Some highlights include traditional folk arts demonstration, historical walking and food tasting tour; distinctive food and goods vendors, multicultural stage performances, kids corner; theme related activities and programs. The top ten finalists of the TD Youth Talent Showdown and Young Star Challenge will be competing at the main stage on August 11th and 12th. Anime Fashion Showdown, Bboys battle, DJs and more will commence on Saturday night to 10pm. The Chinatown Mascot, Van Van will celebrate his second birthday.
This year's TD Youth Talent Showdown and Young Star Challenge Finalists are of a high caliber. There are different varieties of performances, such as Guzheng, singing, Pipa, hip hop, magic, performing guitar, piano and more.
An array of fun-filled activities will be lined up at the Festival:
| i) "Hello Dragon, Ni Hao" theme activities | ||||||
| Not sure what traditional dragon looks like? Come visit the "Hello Dragon, Ni Hao" theme area. I am sure you will find some interesting dragons here. A series of dragon related activities are waiting for you! | ||||||
| ii) Multicultural Stage Performances | ||||||
| August 11 & 12, noon - 6pm | ||||||
- Traditional Lion dance
- Kung Fu
- Japanese Soran
- Capoeira
- Bollywood dance
- Traditional Chinese and minority dance
- Belly dancing
- Hip Hop
- Irish Tap Dance
- TD Youth Talent Showdown Finals
- Young Star Challenge Finals
| iii) |
Kids Corner August 11 & 12, 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm |
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| iv) |
Make your own TD Chinese Zodiac Sign Button for free Stop by the TD booth where our TD comfort Crew will help you figure out your Chinese Zodiac sign and make your very own TD button for free. Make sure to wear your button while roaming the festival and meet other attendees with the same sign. |
| v) |
Cultural Corner Celebrating multiculturalism at this corner! Learn different cultures, practices and games! |
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| Ceramic Demonstration, Rickshaw, fish bowl, traditional sedan chair, Qing Dynasty palace costume, Japanese Kimono, Mehndi and much more! | |
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| Register at the Walking Tour Info Booths on Site. You will visit heritage buildings and get to sample Vancouver Chinatown's favorite foods. Each tour lasts about 30 - 45mins and begins at the Chinese Monument Square every half hour. (Registration Fee - $5 each) | |
| vi) |
StreetFest Saturday, August 11, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm |
| The TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival continues into the night. For the first time, Streetfest will partner up with Anime Revolution to organize the biggest Anime Fashion Showdown in the neighborhood. You will get a chance to take pictures with your favorite anime character. After the fashion showdown, professional DJs will spin the latest tunes while the Bboys battle it out on the stage. Also, there will be a wide range of activities for festival attendees including fun games, booths, carnival foods, and much more! It is going to be the biggest block party in the neighbourhood and it's going to be right here on the streets of Chinatown! Come down for a fun night out with your friends! | |
| vii) |
Day Market Day Market is located at 100 block of Keefer Street. The Day Market will contain a wide variety of merchandises and food from different cultures. This is your chance to try dishes you have never tried before. Bring home gifts and souvenirs from the many booths throughout the Day Market. |
| viii) |
Wheel of "Dragon" Try your luck with the wheel of fortune at any Info Booth with a purchase receipt of $10 or more at any Chinatown businesses during the Festival! There will have side walk-sale |
| ix) TD Youth Talent Showdown 2012 Final | |||||
| On August 12 the top finalists will compete on stage for the Top Three Awards in front of a live audience. Find attached list for details: | |||||
| The top three will be selected among these finalists on August 12 by a judging panel consisting of respected persons of the industry, based on the quality of the performance, stage presence, and appropriateness of costume. Contestants can also win the People's Choice Awards for being the most popular TD Youth Talent Showdown act. You can go online to view video clips of their performance and vote for your favorite act at http://www.vancouver-chinatown.com. Online voting closes on August 11. | |||||
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1st Place: Cash, trophy and gifts (retail value of $1,500) 2nd Place: Cash, trophy and gifts (retail value of $900) 3rd Place: Cash, trophy and gifts (retail value of $700) People's Choice Award Winner: Cash and trophy (retail value of $200) |
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| NOTE: All values are current estimations and be subject to change. | |||||
| x) Young Star Challenge Finals | ||||||
| Selected Young Star Finalists will be competing on stage for the Top Three Awards! They are all between the ages of 5 - 12 waiting to shine on the stage. | ||||||
Sponsors and Friends of the TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival include:
Organizer: Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society
Major Supporter: City of Vancouver
Major Sponsor: Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of P.R. China
Title Sponsor: TD Bank Group
Presenting Sponsor: General Motors of Canada Limited
Supreme Sponsors: AY Au‐Yeung & Company LLP, BC Hydro, Edgewater Casino
Diamond Sponsors: Anime Revolution, J-Long, Kitty's Beauty Studio, McComb Witten Personal Injury Lawyers, Prospero International Realty Inc., Shaw Cable, Superior Tofu Ltd., Vancouver Chinatown Night Market, VIA Rail Canada Inc.
Gold Sponsors: Beijing Trading Co. Ltd., Canada Safeway, Dollar Food Group, Kiu Shun Trading Co Ltd., Pacific Crown Investment Corp, Primcorp Security Ltd.
Premium Media Sponsors: CHMB AM 1320, CTV, Fairchild Television, LS Times TV, OMNI Television, 100.5 The PEAK and Vancouver Courier
Media Sponsors: Global Chinese Press, Talentvision
Media Supporters: Ming Pao Daily News, World Journal
Venue Sponsors: Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie, Rennie Collection
Community Supporters: Chinese Benevolent Association of Vancouver, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Easy Park, Hong Kong Merchants Association of Vancouver, S.U.C.C.E.S.S, UBC Learning Exchange, Vancouver Arbutus Lions Club, Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association and Vancouver Chinatown Revitalization Committee
The Vancouver Chinatown BIA Society (VCBIA) is a non-profit organization aims to create a dynamic and sustainable Chinatown community and tourist destination. VCBIA takes a lead role in expanding partnership with three levels of government, communities, and corporations to improve the physical environment of Chinatown, to implement marketing programs to promote Chinatown to both locals and tourists, and to develop initiatives to revitalize the economy of Chinatown.
SOURCE: TD Vancouver Chinatown Festival