Saturday, January 28 marks the first day of the Lunar New Year, with celebrations to be held across Asia and Australia.
For the Chinese, the event heralds the Year of the Rooster, but Lunar New Year is also celebrated by other countries across Asia – some on the same date and some in the coming months.
Sydney
Sydney’s festivities run from January 27 to February 12.
For the first three nights, the Sydney Opera House will light up red to celebrate the Year of the Rooster – and for the duration of the festival, 12 large zodiac lanterns for those walking through Circular Quay.
Martin Place in the CBD will be taken over by a Lunar Lantern Hub, with food, drink, entertainment and a canopy of red lanterns – with lion dances and live music to be held on February 3.
Pyrmont Bay Park will host a nightly food festival from January 27 to February 5.
The celebrations aren’t confined to the CBD either, with local communities hosting their own events.
Parramatta will host a lion procession and fireworks in Centenary Square on February 3, while Cabramatta will host celebrations in Freedom Plaza on February 11 and 12.
Chatswood Mall will host events through the day on February 8.
Forest Road, Hurstville, will be taken over by stalls on February 4.
The Fairfield Showground will host a Vietnamese festival on February 5 from 5pm to 10pm.
Lunar New Year celebrations in Melbourne, Australia in 2014 Source: Wikimedia Commons
Melbourne
Chinatown will come alive with a dragon parade on January 29 from 11:30 am – with the Chinese Museum in Cohen Place offering free entry from 1pm to 5pm.
Roving performers and Chinese lions will roam the street all afternoon and early evening, with food stalls lining Russell Street.
SBS Pop Asia DJs and live performers will entertain revelers in the evening on the corner of Russell and Lonsdale Streets.
On February 11, Box Hill will celebrate Lunar New Year on Market street from 1pm long into the night.
Brisbane
Celebrations will be centred in Fortitude Valley with Chinatown full of lion dancers, firecrakers, music and performances on January 28, with most events between 5pm and 10pm.
Box Hill Chinese New Year Festival Source: Facebook
Perth
From January 27 to February 5, Elizabeth Quay will showcase giant zodiac animals and an interactive lantern wall as the hub of the city’s celebrations.
Market stalls and live performances will line the quay with free tai chi classes and traditional Chinese arts and craft lessons.
Adelaide
Adelaide's Lunar New Year street party will be held in Chinatown on Gouger street, on February 4 from noon till 10pm.
Hobart
The Chinese Community Association of Tasmania will host a Lunar New Year Festival on the lawns of Parliament House on January 29 from 10am to 4pm.
A lantern festival with lion dancing and other live performances will be held on February 11 by the Hobart Town Hall from 2 to 4pm.
