Last February, Public Dreams’ Granville Street celebrations drew hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world as part of the Cultural Olympiad. 2011 will mark the third year that Public Dreams participates in CIBC LunarFest, a festival celebrating contemporary Asian culture and the Lunar New Year.

This year, we will once again host large-scale participatory street processions on Granville – bringing a little Public Dreams magic to the Lunar New Year. On February 5th and 12th, Public Dreams performers and musicians will gather on the Granville Street corridor starting at 6:15pm at Granville & Georgia. Throughout the afternoon (3 – 6 pm), everyone is invited to come to the LunarFest site at the Vancouver Art Gallery Plaza to make their own lanterns — and carry them along with us in the procession.

You’ll be accompanied by fantastical stilt walkers, illuminated hula-hoopers, an Afro-Brazillian percussion troupe, Sambata, and costumed characters in an explosion of light and performance. Come and be a part of the parade by bringing a lantern and dancing in the streets! The procession will end with a spectacular fire performance at Granville & Georgia at 7pm, followed by a showcase of contemporary and traditional Asian shadow puppetry at the LunarFest site (VAG Plaza) at 8pm.

On February 12^th, the celebrations will accompany the City’s Olympic Anniversary Celebrations – watch for a little extra Public Dreams magic that day around the downtown core . . . more info to follow shortly!