Lunar New Year events: Are they still taking place in your city?

SBS Mandarin is closely monitoring the staging of Lunar New Year events across the country amid concerns over the coronavirus.

Sydney Lunar Festival 2020

Sydney Lunar Festival 2020

As fears grow over the spread of the coronavirus in Australia, extra focus has been placed on whether Lunar New Year events will go ahead.

This year, Lunar New Year was marked on Saturday, January 25, however, events are scheduled to take place in late January and early February. 

Check below to make sure the event in your city is still taking place, or if it's postponed. 

February 8 

WHAT: Eastwood Lunar New Year Festival (postponed)

WHERE: Eastwood Oval, Wingate Ave

The City of Ryde Council has postponed this event due to "current community health concerns". 

An on the council's website said their Lunar New Year Sub-Committee would meet in due course and reschedule the event.
Sydney Lunar Lanes
Sydney Lunar Lanes
20 January -  February 8

WHAT:  (still on, but closely monitoring)

WHERE: Chatswood CBD, Chatswood

Chatswood is hosting a three-week festival to ring in the Year of the Rat and wave goodbye to 2019.

The suburb is set to host the Chinese New Year Celebration Day on February 1. The Chatswood CBD will come alive with Chinese Opera, magic shows, face changing and one of Sydney’s best lion dance performances. The event organisers told SBS Mandarin that they were "closely monitoring" NSW Health and federal government advice about coronavirus.

"At this stage, they [NSW Health] have not advised cancelling public events and so our Year of the Rat Festival will continue as planned including the Celebration Day on February 1 and Twilight Parade on February 8 in Chatswood," a spokesperson said. 

"We have shared health information and updates on our social media pages and encourage residents to adhere to advice from, which can be found on their websites."

January 31 to February 9

WHAT:  (still on)

WHERE: Circular Quay foreshore

If larger than life lanterns are things that you enjoy, don't miss these 12 installations. The 12 Chinese Zodiac animals will light up around Sydney’s famous harbour. A spokesperson from the City of Sydney Council said: "At this stage, there have been no changes to our events, and we take the advice of state and federal health departments."

 

 

 

Hurstville LNY
Source: SBS
February 8-9

WHAT: (postponed)

WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Park Road, Cabramatta

WHEN: 9am-4pm

January 31, February 1 and 2 

WHAT: Tet Festival 2020 (still on)

WHERE: Fairfield Showground, 443 Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood 

WHEN: January 31 (5pm-10.30pm), February 1 (noon-10.30pm) and 2 (noon-10.30pm)

The SBS van will be in attendance at this community event. 

February 7

WHERE: Church Street, Parramatta

Parramata Council issued a statement following the postponement: "Due to community and performer concerns about the new coronavirus, City of Parramatta has decided to postpone its Lunar New Year celebrations on Friday, 7 February. Please keep posted for any future updates."

 

February 8-9

WHAT:  (postponed)

WHERE: Freedom Plaza, Park Road, Cabramatta

WHEN: 9am-4pm

The cultural festivities will feature the God of Fortune, lion dancing and loads of exciting entertainment for the whole family.

Melbourne

WHERE: Little Bourke and Russell Street

Celebrations are still scheduled to take place for this event, which the SBS van will be attending. 
Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival
Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival Source: Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival
February 1-2

WHAT:  (Still on)

WHERE: Sandown Racecourse

WHEN: February 1 from 10am-midnight, February 2 from 10am-10pm

At this TET Festival, there will be a selection of authentic Vietnamese and other South East Asian food stalls, as well as two stages featuring a diverse program of entertainment. The SBS van will be in attendance on February 1.
Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival
جشنواره سال نو چینایی در ملبورن Source: Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival
February 1

WHERE: Whitehorse Road, Market Street and Main Street, Box Hill
Performers are seen during the Chinese New Year Grand Opening Ceremony in Box Hill, Melbourne, Saturday, February 2, 2019.
Performers are seen during the Chinese New Year Grand Opening Ceremony in Box Hill, Melbourne, Saturday, February 2, 2019. Source: AAP

Brisbane

WHAT:  (Still on)

WHERE: Fortitude Valley’s Chinatown Mall

WHEN: February 1 from 4pm-9pm, February 2 from noon-5pm

There will be lion and dragon dancers, fire shows, traditional music, cultural performances, interactive workshops and roving street performers. 

Adelaide

February 1

WHERE: Chinatown

WHEN: Midday-9.30pm

At the 17th Chinatown Adelaide Lunar New Year Street Party, there will be live music, market stalls, pop-up food stalls, and a lion dance.

January 31 and February 8

WHAT: Adelaide Festival Centre performances (Postponed)

Planned performances at Adelaide Festival Centre for Chinese New Year have been postponed, due to travel restrictions from China, artists’ availability and concerns for the health and safety of audiences, artists and staff. 

This affects the performance, cultural showcase and craft workshops for the Chinese New Year Chamber Music Concert on January 31 and both performances of Three Monks in the Space Theatre on February 8.

A spokesperson from the centre told SBS Mandarin: "We hope to reschedule these performances to a later date and will be in contact with audiences once this has been arranged. In the meantime, all tickets already purchased for these performances will be refunded. Ticket-holders are being contacted directly."

Perth

February 2

WHERE: Northbridge Piazza, along James Street and at the Perth Cultural Centre.

The event will start with fire-crackers and street parade, followed by live performances. It will also feature eateries, bars and pop-up vendors.


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5 min read
Published 16 January 2020 1:49pm
Updated 5 February 2020 9:54am
By Helen Chen


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