Lunar New Year falls on Tuesday, Feb. 17, opening the Year of the Horse, and Pacific Mall in Markham is spreading its celebration over the two weekends that follow. The mall at 4300 Steeles Ave. E. has scheduled three afternoons of performances, lion dances and giveaways, presented by Real Canadian Superstore and Loblaws.
Admission is free, according to the Hello Markham community guide. Programs take place at Centre Court on the first floor and at the mall's south and north entrances.
The schedule
Saturday, Feb. 21, 1 to 4 p.m.: grand opening ceremony
Sunday, Feb. 22, 1 to 5 p.m.: door-to-door lion dance through the mall
Saturday, Feb. 28, 1 to 4 p.m.: international stage celebration
The mall says the celebration will include performances, a marketplace, giveaways and lucky draw prizes, with lion dances on Feb. 21 and 22.
Lion dances shop to shop
The Sunday program sends lion dance troupes from storefront to storefront, a tradition businesses use to welcome good fortune at the start of the year. The Hello Markham guide says the weekend will also feature traditional green-picking performances, in which the lion reaches for a bundle of greens offered as a symbol of prosperity.
The Feb. 28 stage show falls on the 12th day of the lunar new year and closes out the mall's program.
Planning a visit
Pacific Mall is at Steeles Avenue East and Kennedy Road, on Markham's border with Toronto, and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Details can change, and the mall posts updates on its event page.
The mall is one of several Markham venues marking the holiday. CF Markville, Markham Museum and the Varley Art Gallery all have Lunar New Year programs on Saturday, Feb. 21.
