Winter Solstice Festival at the Museum

The Winter Solstice Festival, also known as Dongzhi 冬至, marks the longest night of the year and celebrates the arrival of winter. Observed on December 21 this year, it’s a time for families to gather, share hearty meals like hot pot, enjoy tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls) and dumplings, and honour their ancestors.

Join us at the museum to welcome the winter season together! Drop in for a family-friendly craft activity where you can create your own snow globe — complete with a tiny snowman and charming miniatures like boba tea, dim sum, or a mahjong tile.

Settle in for a trilingual storytime featuring the book Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dongzhì Story by Michelle Jing Chan, and enjoy a taste of warm tangyuan — a comforting treat that symbolizes reunion and togetherness. 

Festivities open to all ages; while supplies last.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025

• Location: Chinese Canadian Museum (51 E Pender St.)

• Time & Schedule:
  11 A.M. to 3 P.M. – Drop-in crafts & tangyuan tasting (Education Centre)
  1:30 to 2:15 P.M. – Winter Solstice storytime (School Room)

• Cost: Free with admission

• Register: Registration link here

About Weiwei’s Winter Solstice: A Dongzhì Story

A young girl named Weiwei celebrates the winter solstice, or Dongzhì, in her new snow-covered home. Though she misses the warmth and familiarity of her old home where she used to celebrate with her family, she soon realizes — through shared traditions like making tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) and spending time with loved ones — that home isn’t defined by a place, but by family and the customs they cherish together. In time, Weiwei learns to embrace both the cold season and the warmth of togetherness.