How will you ring in the #YearoftheDog

Alberta is poised to ring in the Year of the Dog this Chinese New Year, an occasion amplified by the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, celebrating  the shared history and future partnerships between the two countries.

Red is the theme of every New Year celebration, representing luck and good fortune in Chinese culture. Offering visitors a chance to paint your town (or destination, event or experience) red is an effective way to boost your marketing visibility, especially when they are able to create a visual feast ripe for sharing on Instagram or WeChat. The following is a snapshot of different events around Alberta that provide an added incentive to visit in the hopes of inspiring even more creative way to capitalize on a landmark year for Sino-Canadian relations and visitation.

Calgary marks the occasion with a city-side celebration of red. Iconic landmarks new and old, from the Arts Commons, Calgary Tower, Glenbow Museum, Olympic Plaza, and Reconciliation Bridge to Stephen Avenue Galleria Trees and TELUS Spark are set to glow with what Tourism Calgary CEO Cindy Ady calls “a special and unified visual display throughout the centre of Calgary.”

Edmonton is set to spark with the annual Firecracker Parade, lighting up 97th street for the morning, and leaving a sea of red (not to be mistaken with the Calgary Flames reference…obviously) in the streets for days afterward to usher in more good luck for the year.This is an Instagrammer’s heaven, with plenty of opportunity to snap slick urban photos to send back home…and inspire others to join them.

Fort McMurray is the kind of place you want to winter in, and the start of the Chinese New Year also marks the kick-off of WinterPLAY, a family-centered festival that might not celebrate the Chinese New Year, but it gives those visiting boreal winter skies something to do during the day, while learning how to embrace the snow in true Alberta fashion.

Let’s hear about your #YearoftheDog celebrations, knowing that each one of the events, attractions and destinations this province offers is another opportunity to demonstrate the ways #TourismWorks. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to list in ATIS.