BC Dumpling Festival returns to Coquitlam with 40,000 expected for fifth year

The BC Dumpling Festival returns to Coquitlam's Town Centre Park on August 15 for its fifth year, expecting around 40,000 people to celebrate one of the world's favourite pocket-sized comfort foods.

From Korean mandu and Chinese jiaozi to Nepalese momos and Italian ravioli, the festival showcases multicultural cuisine. Launched by the Asian Arts & Culture Society during the COVID-19 pandemic, it began as a grassroots initiative to bring people together through culture, conversation, and shared meals.

This year's theme honours China, with a Chinese Pavilion, cultural exhibits, events at the Chinese Consulate, and the chance to play traditional Mahjong with the Vancouver Mahjong Club. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will feature 23 food vendors, 12 food trucks, more than 70 community vendors, and upwards of 150 performers. New dumpling shops include Naked Mandu, Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, Fat Dragon Eatery, May Wei, and Fraser Bar Dumplings, alongside returning favourites.

Entertainment includes lion dance performances, the dumpling eating competition (with sponsors, local politicians, and 10 members of the public competing in rounds), and performances by the Hong De Vancouver Dragon & Lion Dance Team, BC Chinese Chamber Ensemble, Spark88, Next Move Dance Company, taekwondo demonstrations, and evening headliner COCO Project.

Kids' activities include face painting, arts and crafts, and temporary tattoos. Despite rising operating costs and sponsorship challenges, the festival remains free of charge, kept affordable through community support and volunteers.