CIBC LunarFest, the celebration of the Lunar New Year, will be held at the Harbourfront Centre from Friday, Jan. 20 through Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. CIBC LunarFest is Canada’s premier presenter of contemporary expression in Asian arts and culture, and this year’s festival, celebrating the dawn of the Year of the Dragon, will be centred on the theme of “Treasures of the Sea.”
The festival’s centrepiece will be a giant Lantern Aquarium. Inside, a variety of exhibitions of traditional and contemporary arts created by some of Taiwan’s foremost artisans explore the world under the sea.
CIBC LunarFest also offers a range of activities for the entire family: games, crafts, theatre, skating, holiday culinary options and much more! The event is FREE.
Get a detailed listing of all activities, and check out more spectacular event photos below…
Back in November, a call for submissions went out to kids for creative expressions on the theme of “The Treasures of the Sea.” Kids were invite to download a template to create a sea creature from their imagination. Hundreds of children who submitted their drawings on the festival’s theme of “Treasures of the Sea” will recognize their own work inside the Aquarium.
Here are some of the activities planned at the Festival:
PERFORMANCE
The Boy, the Shark and the Sea: A Puppet Show by the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company
Sat. Jan 21 and Sun. Jan 22 from 2-3 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
Based in Taiwan, the Taiyuan Puppet Theatre Company finds new and creative ways to enhance the traditional art of puppetry, and has performed around the world. This production, which features lessons about our interactions with the natural environment, tells the story of a boy, his tarot-root-doppelganger, a friendly shark and the community around them. Audiences will have a chance to interact with the puppets and puppeteers after each performance.
CRAFTS
Lunar Kids Workshops
Sat. Jan 20-Tues. Jan 24 from noon-8 p.m.
A range of workshops will get the whole family involved in Lunar New Year traditions. Experience the magic of lantern-making, paper-cutting, traditional couplet-making and many more fun-filled activities.
GAMES
Lunar Kids Game Station
Sat. Jan 21-Sun. Jan 22 from noon-8 p.m., Mon. Jan 23-Tues. Jan 24 from 12-8 p.m.
A variety of fun and unique games tied into the celebration. Find out what’s in store for your Year of the Dragon in the Fortune Teller Game, test your knowledge of the sea in the Red Envelope Game, and give your brain a tease in the Memory Game. Stop by the vendor booth to sample Lunar New Year cuisine (food vendor will be open from 5-8 p.m. on Mon. and Tues. Jan 23 and 24).
SKATING
The Natrel® Rink
Open daily, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 11 p.m.
Enjoy Toronto’s favourite artificially-cooled outdoor rink while skating to music and taking in the beautiful surroundings of Lake Ontario and the Toronto Islands. On-site skate rentals, change rooms, rental lockers and skate sharpening are all available.
Lunar Skate
Sat. Jan 21 from 8-11 p.m. (Natrel® Rink)
Part of Harbourfront Centre’s DJ Skate series, the Lunar Skate party will feature lanterns, skating activities, music and more.
For more information, visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com, www.lunarfest.org or call the Information Hotline at 416-973-4000.
Opening Ceremonies
Coral Castle and Paper FantaSea
Ocean Heart
Kids may recognize some of the art they submitted
LunarFest Procession & Shadow Puppetry Showcase
Children’s activities
Photos courtesy of LunarFest.org
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A beautiful exhibit, but only one room and SO busy. Nice that it was free but not really for small children or people with strollers. Didn’t even bother waiting for the puppet show – over an hour wait to guarantee a seat. No way my kids were going to make it that long. All so CIBC could give me a $10 voucher for opening a children’s bank account. Not really worth the $15 parking. I miss the lantern festival that used to be at Ontario Place. It was expensive, but worth the trip. This one, you could see nearly all of it online.
Hi Jen – Sorry you didn’t have the best experience at Lunarfest. I miss the Lantern Festival at Ontario Place too! It was really a spectacular event – was so disappointed when they cancelled it.
I cannot wait to bring the kids to see this event… the colors, the art the excitement!!! So proud that my favorite bank – C.I.B.C is sponsoring the event…