Hundreds gather in Edmonton for Vietnamese celebration ahead of Lunar New Year

The Edmonton Viets Association held what organizers call the city's "biggest Vietnamese celebration" yet over the weekend.

Hundreds of people gathered in Edmonton on Saturday for what organizers say is the city’s biggest Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration.

On Feb. 17, people around the world will ring in the Year of the Fire Horse. The Vietnamese Tết Lunar New Year Festival and Concert was hosted by the Edmonton Viets Association at The Villa by Nerval banquet hall on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a bold year. It’s going to be an energetic year. You’re going to be encouraged to take risks and be ambitious,” explained event organizer Linda Hoang. “We’re celebrating Vietnamese culture. It’s open to everyone, though.”

Festivities included dancing, singing and storytelling all displaying what Hoang says is a “rich” Vietnamese culture within Edmonton.

While this particular event was one-day-only, other Lunar New Year celebrations are taking place across the city from now until Feb. 17, including the West Edmonton Mall’s Lunar New Year Extravaganza on Saturday and Sunday, and a similar event at Kingsway Mall on Feb. 14.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall