The first day of spring is quickly approaching, which means Nowruz, also known as Persian New Year, is almost here.
Organizations and libraries across the North Shore are helping celebrate Nowruz with special events, fire festivals, cultural performances and live music to commemorate a fresh start to the year.
Here are some of the highlights:
Nowruz Market and Chaharshanbe Suri Festival at The Shipyards
North Vancouver’s The Shipyards is holding a free Nowruz Market and Chaharshanbe Suri Festival where people can enjoy tons of vendors, musical performances and dances.
According to The Shipyards website, musician Sepideh will be performing as well as DJs throughout the event. The market and festival runs Tuesday, March 18 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. No fireworks or fire jumping will be at the event.
Nowruz Fire Festival at Ambleside Park
The B.C. branch of non-profit Iranian Canadian Congress is hosting a free Nowruz Fire Festival in West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park.
People can expect live music, dancing, food and, of course, fire jumping – “a tradition that symbolizes good health and luck for the coming year.”
The event takes place March 18 from 4 to 10 p.m. The fire jumping area will be from 5 to 9:30 p.m. with a fee to participate.
Listen to Iranian folk and classical music at the West Vancouver Memorial Library
The West Vancouver Memorial Library is holding a “Music in the Main Hall” concert to celebrate Nowruz with Iranian folk and classical music.
Musicians Saina Khaledi, Ali Razmi and Ali Sajjadi will perform in the library’s main hall March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m.
AMED Dance Academy dance workshop at City of North Vancouver civic plaza
Dancers from the Academy of Middle Eastern Dance (AMED) will be holding a free, one-hour dance workshop at the Civic Plaza on March 20 from 3 to 4 p.m.
MLA for North Vancouver-Lonsdale and Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma and Honorary Colonel Farid Rohani will be in attendance.
This marks the second year the dance workshop is running, AMED Artistic Director Pooneh Alizadeh said, adding that she is happy for people to come dance and celebrate. Civic Plaza is located between city hall and the library.
Nowruz New Year Celebration at Capilano Mall
Civic Plaza isn’t the only place where AMED Dance Academy will be celebrating Nowruz.
A Nowruz New Year celebration is happening at Capilano Mall this weekend with cultural dance performances in “vibrant costumes” from AMED Dance Academy along with a free dance workshop for people to join in.
There will also be a traditional drumming performance from Dafan Band and a haft-seen table display featuring fresh flowers and seven “traditional dishes representing prosperity, health, and renewal,” Capilano Mall’s website states.
The free celebration will take place at Capilano Mall on Saturday, March 22 from noon to 2 p.m.
Nowruz Celebration in Farsi at the North Vancouver City Library
Listen to live Persian music by the Ney Nava ensemble at the North Vancouver City Library and a children’s storytime in Farsi on Saturday, March 22 from 2 to 3 p.m.
People interested can register on the library’s website. Registration for the event is required.
Nowruz for Kids at the West Vancouver Community Centre
The West Vancouver Community Centre is holding a Nowruz celebration made specially for kids.
The kid-friendly event will have storytelling, dance performances and a singing ensemble. There will also be activity stations for haft-seen colouring, a Farsi learning corner, face painting, crafts, a “selfie corner” and a calligraphy station.
Nowruz for Kids will take place Monday, March 24 from 3 to 7 p.m. at the West Vancouver Community Centre.
Abby Luciano is the Indigenous and civic affairs reporter for the North Shore News. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
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