Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Ritual and Cultural Festival set for Chinatown Memorial Plaza Sept. 27

The Story

For the first time in Vancouver, organizers say the city will host a Hakka-created fire dragon as part of the Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Ritual and Cultural Festival. The event, produced by Vancouver’s Hakka House, is scheduled for this weekend in Chinatown and is planned around a fire dragon ritual intended to reflect Hakka traditions practiced by Hakka communities worldwide.

The festival’s focus is a locally made dragon crafted by the community, described by organizers as the first Hakka-led, Hakka-created fire dragon produced in Vancouver. In the lead-up to the event, organizers explained that the materials used for the dragon are connected to both place and tradition, including plants from Coast Salish Indigenous lands, as well as herbs and plants associated with Chinese medicinal traditions.

Organizers said the dragon’s body will include lanterns decorated with community well wishes and stories. They also described the event as including storytelling about the origin of the dragon, along with an incense ritual. When the fire dragon is brought out, attendees are encouraged to dance along with it.

The broader cultural program will extend beyond the ritual presentation. Organizers said the festival is meant to celebrate Hakka culture through multiple formats, including a “living library” and lantern decorating, along with community cultural performances, poetry, singing and music.

A highlight on the program is a Hakka kirin (Chinese unicorn) dance, specified as performed by 麒麟革命 Kirin Rising. Alongside the performances, organizers said participants will have access to tea and refreshments, and that the event is open to all ages.

Organizers also provided cultural context on the Hakka people, describing them as a subgroup within the Han and noting that they have no specific territory in China. They said the term “Hakka” in Chinese languages is associated with the idea of “guest families,” reflecting histories of migration and displacement, and that in some historical contexts Hakka identity was portrayed as being imposed or viewed as culturally inferior.

The Hakka Youth Fire Dragon Ritual and Cultural Festival will take place Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Chinatown Memorial Plaza, 137 Keefer St. Admission is free, and organizers list additional information through the event website.

For Vancouver residents looking for an in-person cultural event tied to Chinatown, the festival’s combination of ritual elements—such as the incense ceremony and the fire dragon presentation—plus performance and participatory activities like lantern decorating and community dancing creates a multi-activity program designed to be accessible to families and visitors.