The largest annual summer block party in Vancouver’s Chinatown will take place at Columbia and Keefer Streets on Aug. 5-6, 2006 from 12 noon to 5 pm.
Called the 7th Vancouver Chinatown Festival, the event is organized by the Vancouver Chinatown Business Improvement Area Society (VCBIA) and the City of Vancouver, along with Chinatown Plaza Tenants Association, Chinese Community Policing Centre, Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Easy Park, Hong Kong Merchants’ Association of Vancouver, S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Vancouver Chinatown Merchants Association, Vancouver Chinatown Revitalization Committee, and Vancouver Templeton Leo Club.
The Asian Pacific Post is one of the media sponsors of the event.
The festival will feature the Youth Talent Showdown 2006 contest and other highlights like heritage and food tasting, walking tours, multicultural stage performances, Chinese folk art demos, Vancouver Police Smart Car display, BMX Bike Stunts and on-site lucky draws.
Chinatown merchants will also offer discounts and specials for shoppers and visitors during the event. It is expected over 40,000 people will attend this year’s Festival.
VCBIA president Tony Lam said: “The annual Chinatown Festival is one of the many efforts that contribute to the goal of VCBIA to establish Vancouver Chinatown into a dynamic community and a desirable tourist destination.”
TalentCo Management Ltd., a Vancouver based Talent Management Company, along with Vancouver Academy of Dramatic Arts, Vancouver Academy of Dance and local media representatives, will sit on the judging panel of Youth Talent Showdown 2006 to scout the newest stars of the Lower Mainland.
Preliminaries will take place on July 22 at the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market. Ten finalists will be chosen at the Preliminaries to compete at the talent showdown finals on August 6 during the Chinatown Festival.
