Gong Xi Fa Cai! Happy Chinese New Year from C&G
While Monday marked the the first day of the new year on the Chinese lunar calendar, Melbourne’s celebrations will be extending throughout the month and finishing up on the weekend of the 20th - 21st Feb. From markets and food festivals to parades and activities for the whole family, C&G have listed the line up for you to decide how you’ll be ringing in the Year of the Monkey.
The Age Lunar Markets are a pop-up food festival in Docklands, with outdoor bars, fantastic food stalls and plenty of seating. If you’ve never tried soft shell crab bao with sriracha mayo or a cherry blossom sake glazed chicken burger, here’s your chance! But hurry, the markets wrap up on Sunday the 14th of February.
Chinese New Year Dragon Parade
Melbourne’s bustling center for Chinese culture will play host to Dai Loong, a giant dragon who will emerge from the Melbourne Museum to bless the businesses of Chinatown on February 14. There will be drumming, there will be dancing and there will be bucket loads of excitement!
A one-night extravaganza at Queen Victoria Market, visitors will be impressed by the range of traditional Asian foods, vibrant performances and lantern-making workshops. Other delights include the lantern festival installations along the market’s A Shed, with over a dozen illuminated columns, all themed with traditional Chinese opera masks and lighting up the night skies for all to see.
Trail of Illumination
Throughout the duration of the festival, the banks of the Yarra will act as a hub for night magic. From Australia’s largest illuminated dragon at Eureka Skydeck and the Zodiac lanterns at Southgate to a cute family of pandas along the pedestrian bridge, don’t miss the colossal phoenix or the corridor of moons and stars. If you’re stuck on where to take your Valentine on February 14, this could be the start of a perfect date.
Queensbridge Square Food Truck Park
From February 5th to the 21st, you’ll find tasty treats from 11.30am to 9.30pm at Queensbridge Square every day. White Guy Cooks, Korean Fried Chicken and Flying Woks are just a few. There’ll be some signature light installations and cultural performances in the area, too, so there’s a lot on offer at Southbank!
The Zodiac Spectacular. The name says it all! Amongst several ‘lucky’ kumquat trees, an installation featuring sixty traditional lanterns and all 12 Zodiac animal lanterns will dominate the Atrium for visitors to peruse at their leisure, and make a wish under the kumquat trees if so inclined.
As part of the festival wrap up on the weekend of the 20th and the 21st of February, Luna Park will be hosting a Chinese Zodiac, oriental inspired celebration with dance displays, kid’s craft sessions and Kung Fu demonstrations. The weekend will culminate with the re-emergence of Melbourne’s biggest and longest Hong Kong style performing dragon.