For the second year in a row, the pandemic means there will be no live dragon dances or countdown events in Richmond to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year next Monday night and Tuesday.
However, there are still have plenty of creative ways to welcome the Year of the Tiger virtually.
First up, the Richmond Museum is rolling out a take-home activity kit for families to have some fun time.
Registration is required to pick up a limited number of kits and people interested should call 604-247-8300.
Temple time
Many Richmondites are used to visiting the Ling Yen Mountain Temple on No. 5 Road to “swing away from their troubles” while welcoming the Lunar New Year by ringing a bell.
Although people won't be invited to ring the bell on Jan. 31 this time, they can still go online to watch and listen.
Aberdeen Centre’s virtual celebrations
Meanwhile, with large-scale in-person parties being cancelled due to the surging cases of the Omicron variant, Aberdeen Centre will collaborate with Fairchild TV to bring a virtual celebration to the audience.
Tiffany Ho, senior vice-president and senior general manager of shopping centre owners Fairchild Developments, said the virtual celebration, starting at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31, will feature a variety of artists and a fortune teller.
Richmondites are also welcome to visit the Aberdeen Centre to take photos as the Central Atrium has been decorated with traditional red lanterns, colourful Chinese lions and lucky zodiac tigers, said Ho.
Aberdeen Centre has also launched a photo contest by offering winners a $100 gift certificate.
For more information about the photo contest, visit https://www.aberdeencentre.com/en/events.php.
