Sydney this year will celebrate the Year of the Pig with a 10-day Lunar Festival packed of lantern displays, cultural dance performances, calligraphy demonstrations, dragon boat races, LED lion dances, and even a pop-up beach.
From February 1-10, there will be numerous programs and performances on offer that will interest everyone in the family.
Lunar Lanterns
To mark the Year of the Pig, a spectacular new pig lantern by Qian Jian Hua (Justin) will light up the western boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House.
Back by popular demand, the spiral pigs lantern from 2018 will return to the Overseas Passenger Terminal near The Rocks. Go for a walk around the foreshore to see the 11 other spectacular lanterns that light up Circular Quay.
Date: Friday 1 February to Sunday 10 February
Location: Circular Quay
Lunar Spectacular Show
Singers, dancers, street performers and even a group of "roving pigs" will form part of the entertainment during Lunar New Year celebrations at Sydney's Circular Quay.
Sydney's Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Malaysian communities will be represented at the free Lunar Spectacular Show at Sydney's iconic Circular Quay.
An outdoor stage will be set up close to the Overseas Passenger Terminal along the Sydney Harbour foreshore, which will feature an eclectic mix of traditional and modern dance groups, cultural stories and martial arts displays from February 1-3.
Date: Friday 1 February to Sunday 3 February
Location: Circular Quay
For more: visit here
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 24: City of Sydney CNY18 Guide Dogs and Delegation on February 24, 2016. Source: Damian Shaw / City of Sydney
Calligraphy Demonstrations
Watch a demonstration by master calligraphy artists and go home with your own handwritten souvenir courtesy of our calligraphers. This is a free event. Bookings essential.
Date: Saturday 2 February
Date: Tuesday 5 February
Dragon Boat Races
Grab a spot harbourside and watch the biggest dragon boat races in the southern hemisphere.
Date: Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 February
Location: Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Park
LED Lion Dances
Head to the harbour for lion dances with a sparkling difference. Catch an electrifying lion and dragon dance performance as performers decorated with LEDs illuminate Circular Quay foreshore.
Date: Friday 8 February and Saturday 9 February
Location: Circular Quay
Pop-up Beach
Head to First Fleet Park in The Rocks to enjoy the pop-up beach by the City of Sydney's charity partner Surf Lifesaving NSW. It’ll be buzzing with activity, full of volunteer surf lifesavers, games, activities, a blow up ball pit and loads of giveaways. There will also be beach chairs and umbrellas for those looking for a place to relax.
Date: Friday 1 February to Sunday 10 February
Location: First Fleet Park, The Rocks
