Last Updated: December 22, 2025
Chinese New Year 2025 (Year of the Snake) falls on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. Ottawa celebrates with lion dances and street festivities along Somerset Street Chinatown, cultural performances at the National Arts Centre, family programming at the Canadian Museum of History, and special New Year menus at dozens of authentic Chinese restaurants across the city.
The celebrations span two full weeks, from New Year’s Eve (January 28) through the Lantern Festival on February 12. Somerset Street transforms with red lanterns, thunderous drum beats, and graceful lion dancers as Ottawa’s Chinese community welcomes the Lunar New Year. Whether you’re seeking authentic culinary experiences, mesmerizing performances, or family-friendly activities, Ottawa’s Chinese New Year celebrations offer something extraordinary for everyone.
Key Highlights
TL;DR: Chinese New Year 2025 (Year of the Snake) begins January 29th with two weeks of celebrations across Ottawa. Chinatown hosts lion dances, cultural performances, and special restaurant menus. Museums offer interactive exhibits, while community centres organize family workshops. Expect lantern displays, traditional foods, and vibrant street festivities throughout Somerset Street and beyond.
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Date | January 29, 2025 (Celebrations: Jan 29 - Feb 12) |
| 📍 Main Location | Somerset Street Chinatown & Various Venues |
| 🎉 Key Events | Lion Dances, Lantern Festival, Cultural Performances |
| 💰 Cost | Most street events FREE; Restaurant specials vary |
| ⏰ Peak Times | Weekends (Jan 31-Feb 2, Feb 8-9) |
What is Chinese New Year? Understanding the Year of the Snake
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or Lunar New Year, marks the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. Unlike the Western calendar, this celebration follows lunar cycles, making the date shift annually between January 21 and February 20.
The 2025 celebration ushers in the Year of the Wood Snake, the sixth animal in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. According to Chinese astrology, people born in Snake years are characterized by wisdom, intuition, and elegance. The Wood element adds growth, creativity, and flexibility to these traits, making 2025 a year associated with strategic thinking and positive transformation.
Traditional celebrations last 16 days, beginning on New Year’s Eve and culminating with the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Each day carries unique customs: cleaning homes to sweep away bad luck, wearing red for prosperity, giving red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money, and preparing elaborate feasts featuring symbolic foods.
In Ottawa, the Chinese-Canadian community has transformed these ancient traditions into a vibrant public celebration that welcomes all residents to experience the richness of Chinese culture. The festivities blend time-honored customs with contemporary Canadian multicultural values, creating a unique Ottawa experience.
2025 Celebration Timeline: When to Experience the Magic
The Chinese New Year celebration period extends well beyond a single day, offering multiple opportunities to participate in festivities:
New Year’s Eve (January 28, 2025): Families gather for reunion dinners, the most important meal of the year. Many Ottawa Chinese restaurants offer special New Year’s Eve menus featuring traditional dishes like whole fish (symbolizing abundance), dumplings (representing wealth), and longevity noodles.
New Year’s Day (January 29, 2025): The main celebration day features lion dance performances throughout Chinatown, temple visits, and the exchange of red envelopes. Expect Somerset Street to buzz with activity from late morning through evening.
First Weekend (January 31 - February 2): Peak celebration period with organized community events, extended lion dance performances, and special programming at cultural institutions. Museums and community centres typically schedule their main activities during this window.
Week Two (February 3-9): Smaller neighbourhood celebrations, restaurant promotions continuing, and cultural workshops at libraries and community centres across Ottawa.
Lantern Festival (February 12, 2025): The grand finale featuring illuminated lantern displays, riddle-solving games, and traditional tangyuan (sweet rice ball) desserts. This magical evening marks the official end of New Year celebrations.
Ottawa Chinatown: The Heart of Celebrations
Somerset Street West between Bronson Avenue and Preston Street serves as Ottawa’s historic Chinatown and the epicenter of New Year festivities. This compact but culturally rich neighbourhood transforms into an outdoor festival ground during the celebration period.
The Chinatown Gateway Arch, located at Somerset and Bronson, becomes adorned with red lanterns and banners proclaiming “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Congratulations and Be Prosperous). This iconic landmark serves as the perfect photo opportunity and meeting point for festival-goers.
Street decorations appear weeks before New Year’s Day, with businesses hanging traditional red paper cuttings in windows, displaying kumquat trees (symbolizing prosperity), and installing elaborate lantern displays. Walking Somerset during the celebration period feels like stepping into a different world—the aroma of incense mingles with sizzling woks, Mandarin and Cantonese conversations fill the air, and every storefront radiates festive energy.
The Somerset Street Business Improvement Area typically coordinates street festivities, including the famous lion dance procession that visits businesses along the strip. These performances aren’t mere entertainment; they’re blessing ceremonies where lion dancers “feed” the lion lettuce and red envelopes hung above doorways, bringing good fortune to each establishment.
Parking becomes extremely limited during peak celebration times. Smart visitors use OC Transpo—the 85, 6, and 7 bus routes all serve Somerset Street Chinatown. The Somerset/Bronson stop places you at the heart of the action.
Beyond the main Somerset corridor, smaller pockets of celebration occur in neighbourhoods with significant Chinese-Canadian populations, including areas of Nepean, Kanata, and Orleans, where community centres host their own cultural programming.
Lion Dance Performances: Where to Witness This Ancient Art
The lion dance represents one of Chinese New Year’s most spectacular traditions, and Ottawa offers multiple opportunities to witness these acrobatic performances that combine martial arts, dance, and music.
Unlike dragon dances (which require 10+ performers), lion dances feature pairs of dancers inside elaborate lion costumes, performing athletic routines to the accompaniment of drums, cymbals, and gongs. The lions “wake up,” prowl, interact with audiences, and perform impressive acrobatic feats including pole climbing and jumping sequences.
Where to See Lion Dances in Ottawa:
Somerset Street Procession: The main lion dance troupe typically begins performances around 11:00 AM on New Year’s Day, proceeding along Somerset Street and visiting businesses throughout the afternoon. Multiple lions participate, creating a spectacular moving celebration. The procession doesn’t follow a rigid schedule—lions stop at businesses that have prepared offerings, creating an organic, spontaneous feel.
Shopping Mall Appearances: Major Ottawa shopping centres with significant Asian clientele often host lion dance performances during the celebration weekend. Rideau Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre, and St. Laurent Centre frequently schedule performances. Check mall websites for specific times and locations.
Restaurant Private Performances: Larger Chinese restaurants in Ottawa may arrange private lion dance blessings, especially on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. While these serve primarily as business blessings, diners present can witness the spectacle up close.
Community Centre Events: Organizations like the Chinese Canadian Association of Ottawa and the Ottawa Chinese Community Services Centre often organize lion dance performances as part of larger cultural celebrations. These performances typically occur indoors and may include educational components explaining the tradition’s significance.
Photography tip: Lion dancers appreciate respectful photography but avoid using flash during performances, as it can distract performers executing dangerous acrobatic moves. The best photos come from positioning yourself slightly to the side rather than directly in front, capturing the lion’s profile and the drummer’s intensity.
Best Chinese Restaurants for New Year Feasts
Chinese New Year offers the perfect opportunity to explore Ottawa’s diverse Chinese culinary scene. Many restaurants prepare special New Year menus featuring dishes rarely available at other times, while others extend their usual offerings with festive presentations.
Authentic Regional Cuisine:
Yangtze Restaurant (Somerset Street): This Chinatown institution specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine and typically offers New Year family-style banquet menus. Expect dishes like Beijing-style dumplings, handmade noodles, and authentic Peking duck. Reservations essential for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day—call at least two weeks ahead.
Shanghai Restaurant (Hunt Club Road): For Shanghainese specialties, this Nepean location excels during New Year with traditional sweet rice wine soup, lion’s head meatballs, and eight treasure rice dessert. Their New Year menu usually balances traditional dishes with Canadian-Chinese favourites.
Sichuan Restaurant (Somerset Street): Spice enthusiasts shouldn’t miss the special New Year hotpot offerings here. The reunion hotpot serves groups of 6-8 with multiple broths and premium ingredients. The restaurant’s festive red decorations create an authentic celebration atmosphere.
Mandarin Ogilvie: While a Canadian chain, Mandarin creates special New Year buffet sections featuring traditional celebration foods. This option works well for families with diverse tastes or those new to Chinese New Year dining customs.
New Year’s Dining Traditions:
Several dishes carry special significance during New Year celebrations:
Fish (Yu): Whole fish symbolizes abundance, but tradition dictates leaving some uneaten to ensure surplus carries into the new year. Many restaurants prepare whole steamed fish with ginger and scallions.
Dumplings (Jiao Zi): Shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots, dumplings represent wealth. Northern Chinese families traditionally make dumplings together on New Year’s Eve, sometimes hiding a coin in one dumpling—whoever finds it receives extra luck.
Longevity Noodles: These extra-long noodles shouldn’t be cut before eating, symbolizing long life. Slurping them entirely without breaking represents respect for the tradition.
Tangyuan: These sweet rice balls filled with black sesame, peanut, or red bean paste are essential for the Lantern Festival. Their round shape symbolizes family unity and completeness.
Nian Gao (New Year Cake): This sweet, sticky rice cake’s name sounds like “year high,” representing growth and improvement in the coming year.
Several Chinatown bakeries create special New Year pastries and sweets during the celebration period. Kowloon Bakery and New Chong Hing Bakery both prepare traditional treats including almond cookies, wife cakes, and decorative steamed buns shaped like the Snake.
Cultural Activities at Ottawa Museums and Institutions
Ottawa’s museums and cultural institutions recognize Chinese New Year’s significance, offering special programming that educates while celebrating.
Canadian Museum of History:
The museum typically organizes a Chinese New Year celebration weekend featuring live performances, hands-on craft activities, and cultural demonstrations. Past programming has included:
- Calligraphy workshops where visitors learn to write New Year greetings
- Paper cutting demonstrations showing traditional decorative techniques
- Storytelling sessions explaining zodiac animal legends
- Martial arts demonstrations
- Contemporary Chinese music performances
The museum’s Children’s Museum section usually creates New Year-themed interactive exhibits allowing children to try on traditional clothing, practice chopstick skills, and create their own lanterns.
Ottawa Public Library Branches:
Multiple OPL branches offer New Year programming, particularly those in neighbourhoods with significant Chinese-Canadian populations. Activities typically include:
- Bilingual storytimes featuring Chinese folktales
- Craft workshops creating paper lanterns, red envelopes, and zodiac animal decorations
- Cultural education sessions about New Year traditions
- Special displays of books about Chinese culture and the zodiac
The Main Branch (Metcalfe) and Nepean Centrepointe Branch usually host the most extensive programming. Registration often required—check the library website in early January.
City of Ottawa Recreation and Culture:
Various community centres across Ottawa organize Chinese New Year celebrations. The Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre and the Nepean Sportsplex frequently host events featuring:
- Traditional tea ceremonies
- Cooking demonstrations teaching dumpling folding techniques
- Chinese language introduction classes
- Cultural fashion shows
- Family-friendly games based on New Year traditions
These community-level celebrations create opportunities to experience Chinese New Year in your own neighbourhood, making the culture accessible to all Ottawa residents.
Family-Friendly New Year Events Across Ottawa
Chinese New Year celebrations in Ottawa extend well beyond Chinatown, with family-focused activities designed to introduce children to Chinese culture through interactive, engaging experiences.
Free Family Activities:
Chinatown Outdoor Festival: Weather permitting, Somerset Street occasionally closes to vehicles for an outdoor celebration featuring multiple stages with performances, vendor tents selling traditional snacks, and interactive activity stations. Children can try traditional games, create crafts, and receive small gifts from cultural organizations.
Red Envelope Craft Workshops: Multiple community organizations offer workshops teaching children to create and decorate their own red envelopes. This hands-on activity explains the tradition’s significance while developing fine motor skills and creativity.
Zodiac Animal Storytelling: Libraries and cultural centres host storytelling sessions explaining why the rat won the zodiac race, how each animal earned its position, and what characteristics define each zodiac sign. These engaging narratives introduce children to Chinese folklore.
Lantern Making Classes: Perhaps the most popular family activity, lantern-making workshops occur at recreation centres, libraries, and museums. Children create traditional red lanterns using paper, bamboo, and modern craft supplies, learning about the Lantern Festival’s significance.
Kid-Friendly Restaurant Experiences:
Many Chinese restaurants in Ottawa welcome families during New Year celebrations and offer child-friendly options:
- Dim sum restaurants allow children to experience the excitement of cart service and try small portions of various dishes
- Some establishments provide coloring sheets featuring zodiac animals and New Year symbols
- Restaurants with private dining rooms accommodate large family gatherings, ideal for multigenerational celebrations
Educational Value:
Ottawa’s Chinese New Year celebrations provide valuable multicultural education for children. Experiencing different cultural traditions builds empathy, global awareness, and appreciation for diversity—values central to Canadian identity.
Parents can enhance the learning experience by:
- Reading zodiac animal books before attending events
- Explaining colour symbolism (red for luck, gold for wealth)
- Discussing how different cultures mark new beginnings
- Trying unfamiliar foods together with open minds
- Asking cultural organization volunteers questions—most enthusiastically share knowledge
Shopping for New Year Supplies: Markets and Specialty Stores
Preparing for Chinese New Year involves specific items, from decorations to special ingredients, and Ottawa’s Asian markets provide everything necessary for authentic celebrations.
Top Shopping Destinations:
Kowloon Market (Somerset Street): Chinatown’s premier grocery store stocks comprehensive New Year supplies including:
- Fresh specialty vegetables (bok choy, Chinese broccoli, lotus root)
- Live seafood tanks for selecting the freshest fish
- Preserved foods (dried mushrooms, sea cucumber, abalone)
- New Year decoration sets (banners, lanterns, door couplings)
- Red envelopes in various designs
- Traditional candies and gift boxes
The store becomes extremely busy during the week before New Year—arrive early morning for best selection and manageable crowds.
Asian supermarkets (Hunt Club area): Multiple large-format Asian grocery stores along Hunt Club Road offer New Year sections starting in early January. These include T&T Supermarket-style options with:
- Pre-packaged New Year gift sets (tea, cookies, dried fruits)
- Prepared foods section with New Year specialties
- Extensive frozen dumpling selections
- Bakery counters with festive sweets
- Home goods sections with decorative items
Ottawa Farmers Markets: During winter months, the Lansdowne Farmers Market features Asian vendors selling fresh ingredients and prepared foods. While not specifically New Year focused, these vendors often bring special items during the celebration period.
What to Buy:
For Decorating:
- Chunlian (red paper couplets with poetic phrases)
- Fu characters (fortune symbols, traditionally hung upside-down)
- Paper lanterns in various sizes
- Kumquat or mandarin trees in pots
- Red tablecloths and napkins
For Cooking:
- Dumpling wrappers (fresh preferred over frozen)
- Rice flour for making nian gao
- Premium soy sauce and vinegar
- Fresh ginger and scallions
- Whole fish (select from live tanks)
- Special New Year candy trays (eight compartments representing eight fortunes)
For Gift Giving:
- Quality tea sets
- Premium dried fruits
- Decorative cookie tins
- Red envelopes with the Snake symbol
- Health supplements packaged as gifts
Shopping for New Year supplies offers cultural immersion even before celebrations begin. Store staff often provide cooking advice, explain decoration symbolism, and share personal New Year traditions—don’t hesitate to ask questions.
Traditional Foods to Try: A Culinary Journey
Chinese New Year cuisine extends far beyond individual dishes—it’s an edible language communicating hopes, dreams, and cultural identity. Each food’s name, appearance, or preparation method carries symbolic meaning, transforming meals into rituals.
Must-Try New Year Foods:
Dumplings (Jiao Zi): The quintessential New Year food, especially in Northern Chinese tradition. Their gold ingot shape symbolizes wealth, while families making dumplings together represents unity. Ottawa’s Chinese restaurants offer countless varieties:
- Pork and chive (classic combination)
- Lamb and carrot (warming winter option)
- Vegetarian mushroom and cabbage
- Seafood with shrimp and crab
Making dumplings at home: Several Chinatown shops sell dumpling-making supplies. Fill wrappers with your chosen mixture, pleat edges, and either boil, steam, or pan-fry. The imperfect ones often taste best—they carry the cook’s love and effort.
Longevity Noodles (Chang Shou Mian): Extra-long noodles symbolize long life. Traditional preparation involves:
- Using uncut noodles (cutting equals shortening life)
- Preparing in rich broth or stir-fried with vegetables
- Eating without breaking the noodles (challenging but fun)
Ottawa restaurants serving excellent longevity noodles include Yangtze Restaurant (handmade noodles) and various noodle shops along Somerset.
Whole Steamed Fish: The word for fish (yu) sounds identical to the word for surplus, making fish essential for New Year tables. Traditional preparation:
- Fish must be whole (head and tail representing good beginning and ending)
- Steamed with ginger, scallions, and soy sauce
- Some left uneaten (ensuring surplus continues into the new year)
Spring Rolls: These crispy rolls resemble gold bars, symbolizing wealth. The name also references the Spring Festival itself. Fillings vary from vegetables to meat, with dipping sauces ranging from sweet and sour to spicy chili oil.
Nian Gao (New Year Cake): This sticky, sweet rice cake’s name creates a pun: “Nian nian gao sheng” means “increase year by year.” Some versions include:
- Sweet version with brown sugar
- Savory version with vegetables and preserved meats
- Pan-fried slices for breakfast
- Steamed squares as dessert
Tangyuan (Sweet Rice Balls): Essential for the Lantern Festival (February 12), these glutinous rice balls filled with sweet paste symbolize family togetherness and reunion. The round shape represents completeness. Traditional fillings:
- Black sesame paste (nutty, rich)
- Peanut (sweet, smooth)
- Red bean (traditional favourite)
- Taro (purple colour, unique flavour)
Served in sweet soup, sometimes with fermented rice wine for adults, tangyuan provide the perfect sweet ending to New Year celebrations.
Eight Treasure Rice (Ba Bao Fan): This elaborate dessert combines glutinous rice with eight types of dried fruits and nuts (dates, lotus seeds, raisins, longans), creating a colorful, symbolic dish. The number eight represents prosperity in Chinese culture.
Candy Box Traditions: Traditional New Year candy boxes feature eight compartments (eight fortunes) filled with:
- Candied lotus seeds (fertility)
- Melon seeds (growth)
- Chocolate coins (wealth)
- Coconut candy (togetherness)
- Preserved fruits (sweetness)
Offering candy to guests represents sharing good fortune. Many Ottawa Chinese families prepare these boxes, available pre-assembled at Chinatown markets.
FAQ
Q: When exactly is Chinese New Year 2025 in Ottawa?
Chinese New Year 2025 falls on Wednesday, January 29, 2025. However, celebrations in Ottawa typically span two weeks, from New Year’s Eve (January 28) through the Lantern Festival (February 12). The biggest public events occur during the first weekend (January 31-February 2) when Somerset Street Chinatown hosts lion dances, cultural performances, and street festivities. Plan to visit during weekend hours for the fullest experience, though restaurants and shops offer special New Year experiences throughout the entire period.
Q: Are Chinese New Year events in Ottawa free to attend?
Most public Chinese New Year celebrations in Ottawa are completely free. Street festivities along Somerset, lion dance performances in Chinatown, museum programming at the Canadian Museum of History, and library activities require no admission fees. Community centre events occasionally charge minimal fees ($5-10) to cover craft supplies. Restaurant meals obviously cost money, with special New Year menus ranging from regular pricing to premium banquet rates ($30-80 per person). Red envelope gifting is traditional but entirely voluntary—receiving one requires no reciprocation from non-Chinese participants.
Q: What does the Year of the Snake mean in Chinese astrology?
The Year of the Wood Snake begins January 29, 2025, combining the Snake zodiac animal with the Wood element. In Chinese astrology, Snakes symbolize wisdom, intuition, elegance, and strategic thinking. The Wood element adds characteristics of growth, flexibility, creativity, and compassion. Together, 2025 represents a year favoring careful planning, intellectual pursuits, artistic endeavors, and thoughtful communication. People born in Snake years (1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025) are considered wise, mysterious, and graceful, with strong analytical abilities.
Q: Can non-Chinese people participate in Ottawa’s Chinese New Year celebrations?
Absolutely! Ottawa’s Chinese New Year celebrations warmly welcome everyone regardless of cultural background. The events serve as cultural education and community building opportunities, not exclusive gatherings. Participating respectfully shows appreciation for Chinese culture and strengthens Ottawa’s multicultural fabric. Simple courtesies include: asking before photographing people, trying unfamiliar foods with an open mind, wearing red if desired (it’s lucky, not appropriation), learning basic greetings like “Gong Xi Fa Cai” (Happy New Year), and asking questions when curious. Chinese-Canadian community organizations enthusiastically share their traditions with all Ottawa residents.
Q: What should I wear to Chinese New Year celebrations in Ottawa?
Dress warmly for outdoor Somerset Street festivities—Ottawa’s late January temperatures demand winter coats, boots, and layers. Colour-wise, wearing red is encouraged (symbolizing good luck and joy), though not required. Avoid wearing entirely black or white outfits, as these colours traditionally represent mourning in Chinese culture. For restaurant celebrations, smart casual works well—most Ottawa Chinese restaurants don’t enforce strict dress codes even for New Year banquets. If attending formal community events or museum programs, check specific dress guidelines, though these rarely extend beyond general neatness.
Q: Where can I find authentic Chinese groceries for cooking New Year foods at home?
Ottawa offers several excellent options for Chinese groceries. Kowloon Market on Somerset Street provides the most comprehensive selection in Chinatown, including live seafood, fresh produce, specialty ingredients, and New Year decorations. Multiple large Asian supermarkets along Hunt Club Road (near Riverside Drive) stock extensive ingredients with ample parking—ideal for major shopping trips. These stores carry everything from dumpling wrappers to specialty sauces, rice flour for nian gao, and prepared foods. Smaller Asian groceries exist throughout Ottawa in Nepean, Kanata, and Orleans neighbourhoods. Staff members typically provide cooking advice and can recommend substitutions if specific ingredients are unavailable.
Final Thoughts
Chinese New Year 2025 offers Ottawa residents an extraordinary opportunity to experience one of humanity’s oldest and most vibrant cultural celebrations without leaving the National Capital Region. From the thunderous drums accompanying lion dances along Somerset Street to the delicate sweetness of tangyuan at the Lantern Festival, these two weeks invite everyone into a rich tradition of renewal, family, and hope.
The Year of the Wood Snake reminds us that wisdom, strategic thinking, and graceful adaptation serve us well in uncertain times. Ottawa’s Chinese-Canadian community has modeled exactly these qualities, building vibrant cultural institutions while contributing immeasurably to the city’s multicultural identity. Their willingness to share New Year traditions with all residents exemplifies the best of Canadian values.
Whether you’re sampling your first dumpling, watching your fiftieth lion dance, or bringing children to experience cultural diversity firsthand, Chinese New Year celebrations in Ottawa create memories and connections that extend far beyond the festival period. The traditions honour the past while embracing the future—much like Ottawa itself.
As the red lanterns illuminate Somerset Street and families gather around New Year tables, remember that every celebration begins with a single step. This year, take that step into Ottawa’s Chinese New Year festivities. Discover new flavours, witness spectacular performances, learn ancient customs, and join thousands of neighbours welcoming the Year of the Snake with joy, hope, and community spirit.
Gong Xi Fa Cai—may the new year bring you prosperity, health, and happiness.
Source: Chinese Canadian Association of Ottawa, Ottawa Public Library Cultural Programming, Canadian Museum of History, Somerset Street Chinatown BIA
