Lunar New Year is quickly approaching, and 2025 will mark the Year of the Snake. In Toronto, there's a massive way to celebrate right in the heart of the city, and it's a first-of-its-kind festival.

Toronto Spring Festival is taking place on Saturday, Jan. 25, running from 12 p.m. until 11 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square. The inaugural party celebrates the beginning of the new year and marks the first-ever Chinese New Year celebration fireworks at City Hall.

The festivities are family-friendly as this free one-day gathering will include magical ice skating performances, lion dances, live music, food trucks and a marketplace.

Celebrating the Year of the Snake

"The Lunar New Year would generally be the night of the 28th, but we moved it to the Saturday so the festival can be celebrated on a weekend," Blur Wu, Founder of Spark Media and The Initiator and Master Director/Planner of Toronto Spring Festival shares with me.

"We are so excited to celebrate Chinese culture, Toronto and the community," Wu continues.

At the event, there will be food trucks selling traditional Chinese eats, as well as other cuisines, as a DJ plays special tracks created for the festival. As you walk around you'll also be treated to lion dances, a traditional art form where performers dress in costumes to mimic the movements of a lion.

"If you want to get right in on the fun, there will be interactive sessions at a Hanfu try-out booth," Wu explains. "Hanfu is traditional Chinese clothing, the pieces are gorgeous."

The ice skating performances will happen on the outdoor ice pad at Nathan Phillips Square, featuring the talents of the University of Toronto Skating Club. There will be one performance at 5 p.m. and another at 7:30 p.m. with both lasting 40 minutes.

Photo opportunities are a must as the area will be decorated with spring lanterns, glowing lights and symbols of China and its culture, with many coming to Toronto directly from China.

You will also be able to shop at Echo Market, a marketplace that will be set up all day in the square, and it will have various local vendors selling handmade treasures, including traditional Chinese pieces.

A first-ever fireworks show will light up the sky

Besides all the activities of the day, the highlight will be the fireworks show in the evening.

"The Spring Festival or Lunar New Year is the most significant traditional holiday for the Chinese people, with fireworks symbolizing the ushering in of good fortune and prosperity," Wu tells me. After 10 years of working with the City of Toronto to make it happen, he says this fireworks show is a massive deal.

"It is so traditional to have fireworks for the holiday, and it will be such a special way to bring the community together."

The fireworks will begin at 10 p.m. sharp, and the five-minute show will also feature music to keep the vibes going.

"We want to appreciate and celebrate Canada's diversity and inclusiveness. In Chinese culture, we love sharing joy with all communities and it's mirrored in Canada and Toronto," Wu smiles. 

Happy (almost) Lunar New Year, Toronto!