Lunar/Chinese New Year Festivals in Sydney 2015

Where are the Lunar New Year Festivals in Sydney for 2015?

“2015 Lunar New Year Festivals in Sydney, a complete list” (click to tweet this and share the love)

Want to experience the fun and excitement of the Year of the Sheep/Goat?  This year, Chinese New Year, Tet, Lunar New Year falls on Thursday, 19 February 2015.

While the City of Sydney’s “Chinese New Year” celebrations are the biggest – there are plenty of other celebrations around town that also celebrates the diverse Asian community in Australia including Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean.

This year, Chinese New Year, Tet, Lunar New Year falls on Thursday, 19 February.

There are at least 14 celebrations held across Sydney – Parramatta, Fairfield, Bankstown and Cabramatta in the west, Rockdale, Kogarah and Hurstville down south, Chatswood and Lane Cove up north, Burwood, Marrickville and Eastwood in the inner west and Sydney CBD. Read on for the full list compiled by noodlies, Sydney food blog.

READ: Lunar New Year traditions my dad taught me.

Dragon and lion dancing, visits by the god of wealth, art exhibitions, fireworks and of course, lots and lots of food – the noodlies video below, from the 2011 Lunar New Year Celebration in Hurstville, gives you a sense of the excitement and colour.

Here’s a list of the major 2015 Lunar New Year festivals in Sydney. Enjoy!

7 Feb – 29 March Sydney: Chinese New Year Festival, City of Sydney
In its 19th year, the Festival is organised by the City of Sydney and is by far the largest Lunar New Year celebration in NSW; from entertainment, arts, food, markets, tours and workshops.  Popular events include Dragon Boat Races, Chinese New Year Markets and Twilight Parade.

READ: 8 lucky foods for Lunar New Year

14 Feb Hurstville, Lunar New Year Festival, Hurstville Council
Hurstville City Council welcomed in the Year of the Sheep with a spectacular Street Festival held on Saturday, 14 February 2014 along Forest Road, Hurstville.

14 Feb Saigon Place, Bankstown, Lunar New Year Festival, Bankstown Council
All of the traditional elements will be there including lion dances, lucky envelopes given by the God of Good Fortune, New Year card making, New Year flower making and Chung cake making classes. Calligraphy by the Learned Scholar and fruit carving demonstrations are always popular but it is The New Year Garden that continues to delight festival goers.

WATCH: Best Chinatown food courts in Sydney

20 Feb Church St Mall, Parramatta: Lunar New Year Festival, Parramatta Council
From 4.30pm, celebrate the Year of the Goat with live entertainment, traditional and contemporary cultural music and dance, delicious food stalls including all your authentic favourites, kid’s activities and the spectacular Chinese dragon and lion dance with fire crackers.

20 Feb King Street Place, Rockdale: Chinese New Year Festival, Rockdale Council
Lunar New Year (formerly known as Chinese New Year) is held annually in King Street Place, Rockdale in celebration of the City’s Australian-Asian community. The event features Dragon and Lion Dances, stalls, traditional performances, authentic food and children’s activities.

20 Feb Lane Cove Plaza, Lunar New Year Festival, Lane Cove Council
Join Council from 4.30pm as it hosts a special Lunar New Year Celebration including a Chinese lion dance that parades through the Plaza to bring good fortune to all. Children will also receive their own lai see (lucky red envelope) for extra good luck.

READ: Best restaurant in Cabramatta

21 Feb Cabramatta Freedom Plaza: Lunar New Year Festival, Fairfield Council
A lower-key event compared to the Council’s huge Moon Festival, this one has a Vietnamese flavour.  The event will be an action-packed weekend filled with entertainment, traditional rituals and, if you’re feeling a little peckish, you’ll find some of the most authentic Asian dishes in Sydney.

21 Feb Chatswood Mall: Chinese New Year Festival, Willoughby Council
An official opening will be at 11am by the Mayor of Willoughby and the Chairperson from the Chinese Cultural Centre NSW. A Lion and Dragon Dance will welcome the New Year, followed by an assortment of performances and entertainment.

21 Feb North Rocks Park: Chinese New Year Festival, The Hills Shire
Food stalls (Asian and international including Eat Art Truck), God of Fortune, free face painting, lots of great entertainment, Bonsai display, Chinese Art display, Taekwondo demonstrations, free craft activities for the kids, Kite flying, yard games and children’s playground area, many cultural activities to enjoy, parking available on site. Fireworks conclude the celebrations at 9pm.

26 Feb Burwood Park, Burwood: Lunar New Year Festival, Burwood Council
Enter the gateway to the Asian food fair where vendors will be selling a variety of Asian food and merchandise, while performers including stilt walkers, spinning plates, calligrapher, God of Wealth, fire dancers and Lion Dancers roam through the crowd.

26 Feb Kogarah Town Square, Chinese New Year Festival, Kogarah Council
This annual celebration showcases the Chinese community through song and dance with the traditional ‘dotting of the eyes’, lion dance and crackers provided by Da Hong Kung-Fu. Other performers include: Ocean Dream Cultural Art Centre, St George Choir, St George Brass Band, Australia International Youth Talent Competition, Grace Chinese Christian Church, CASS Kogarah Activity Group Kogarah Chinese Seniors Group, and Sydney Music Ensemble.

27 Feb – 1 Mar Fairfield Showground, Fairfield, Tet/Lunar New Year Festival, Vietnamese Community
Organised by the Vietnamese Community in Australia (VCA), this is an annual fundraiser for them and the largest Vietnamese celebration in the state, attracting over 60,000 visitors. This is the one to go to if you want to see how the Vietnamese celebrate new year (noodlies video round-up from the 2011 Festival below).

28 Feb Calvert Street car park, off Illawarra Road, Marrickville: Lunar New Year Festival, Marrickville Council
Celebration of the Lunar New Year with the awakening of the Lions, live entertainment including traditional singing, dancing, musicians and martial arts. The Lions and the God of Wealth will also parade the Marrickville CBD blessing businesses and distributing traditional Red Envelopes.

28 Feb Eastwood Plaza, Eastwood Lunar New Year Festival, City of Ryde
2015 is the Year of the Sheep and Eastwood will host the annual celebrations for Lunar New Year. Come and join the party! Music and Chinese and Korean dance performances, high pole dancing lions, food stalls, fireworks and Eastwood’s longest dragon parade.

Which Festivals will you be going to?

Are there other Lunar New Year Festivals in Sydney to add to this list?

Please let me know in the comments section below!