Celebrate Lunar New Year in CBCity

The City of Canterbury Bankstown is going the ‘whole hog’ this year with its spectacular Lunar New Year festivities, in honour of the Year of the Pig.

Celebrations will be held across the City, starting with a big Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday 2 February at Saigon Place, Chapel Road South, Bankstown.

From 4-9pm, thousands of people are expected to flock to Saigon Place to ring in the Year of the Pig, which is said to bring fortune and luck.

There will be a number of drawcards for visitors throughout the day, including:

A New Years Garden and flower market;A watermelon eating competition;A Lion dance;Vietnamese traditional dance;Chinese traditional dance;Fan dance;Fire performers;Calligraphy and Bonsai;Chop stick challenges;Drumming;A Lunar New Year Wishing Tree;Ice sculpture;Fruit carving;Martial Arts demonstrations;Japanese hula hoopist;Face changer;Origami and lantern making workshops;Traditional Chinese fashion parade;Food and merchandise stalls; andRides and children’s activities.

Mayor Khal Asfour said the City’s vibrant Asian culture is worth exploring at this year’s Festival.

"Our City has long cherished its multicultural identity, which is why I am proud to celebrate events like Lunar New Year, where we can prominently showcase a dynamic mix of languages, customs and traditions," Mayor Asfour said.

"I look forward to sharing another Lunar New Year with our residents and visitors, and seeing them enjoy this colourful and entertaining extravaganza."

Bankstown Arts Centre will also be holding the inaugural Lunar New Year Parade Action Photography fieldtrip, which will see six budding photographers undertake a four-hour masterclass at the Festival, with renowned photographer, Neoklis Bloukos.

There will be another Lunar New Year celebration in Campsie Town Centre, on Wednesday 13 February (noon-2pm), which will include a lion dance and visit from the God of Fortune.

Musical performances will also be held at Riverwood Library and Community Hub on Thursday 7 February (3.30-5pm).

For more information on Lunar New Year, visit cb.city/lunarnewyear