Just as one festive season wraps up, another has snuck up on us. Lunar New Year is here and the city is welcoming the Year of the Rabbit with colourful decorations, traditional feasts and heaps of entertainment. The city is diving into the spirit of the Chinese New Year with the Sydney Lunar Festival. Haymarket has transformed into a buzzing carnival complete with outdoor art installations, lion dancers, street food and more. Expect 17 days of food, culture and heritage across Haymarket with Dixon, Hay, Sussex and Harbour streets participating.
Sydney Lunar Festival, 2023
Every year Chinatown pulls out all the stops to usher in the Chinese New Year. This year around, the vibrant district will capture the colour and excitement of the festival with a giant street celebration. The festival kickstarted with Sydney Lunar Streets on Lunar New Year’s Eve.
Roving performers and lion dancers will take to the streets and delicious street food will be served up throughout the area. Expect an eclectic mix of stage performances to keep you entertained, markets selling lunar goodies and all the good vibes in the heart of Sydney.
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the festival, visitors can enjoy lion dancers and street performers at different locations across the Haymarket area. Plus commissioned artists will present special banner galleries and Lunar Gateways in prime areas of the precinct.
Excitingly, Dragon Boats are coming to Darling Harbour on January 28-29 with thousands of paddlers participating and thousands of onlookers in attendance.
The festival will wrap up with the Lunar Spectacular Show at Town Hall on Saturday, February 4 with several communities including Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese and Vietnamese showcasing their beautiful cultures through traditional and contemporary dance, music and storytelling.
Celebrations for the Year of the Rabbit take place from Saturday, January 21 to Sunday, February 5, 2023. Get more information here.