Chinese New Year Festival 2010

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger in Sydney in February 2010. City of Sydney's annual Chinese New Year Festival is the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia. Anchored by a major street parade of international standard, the Festival includes more than 40 fantastic events produced by arts organisations, museums and community groups celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Major Festival events include the Official Launch on Friday 12 February and Festival Markets 12-14 February, both at Belmore Park, the great spectacle of the Twilight Parade on 21 February and the exciting Dragon Boat Races on 27-28 February in Darling Harbour. 

The Festival includes a diverse mix of performances, exhibitions, film screenings, sporting events, tours, lectures, food events and social occasions. For full event listings and details, pick up a Festival Program or visit www.sydneychinesenewyear.com.au from January 2010.

Highlights of this year's Festival include:

Official Launch
Date: Friday 12 February 2010
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Belmore Park, across Eddy Avenue from Central Station

Celebrate the launch of the Chinese New Year Festival and the first night of the Festival Markets. Enjoy traditional and contemporary Chinese performances, explore the market stalls and get a taste of what you can expect for the Twilight Parade.   

Chinese New Year Markets
Date: Friday 12 February - Sunday 14 February 2010
Time: Friday 4:00pm - 10:00pm, Saturday/Sunday 11:00am - 10:00pm
Venue: Belmore Park, across Eddy Avenue from Central Station

Experience an authentic Asian Market at the Chinese New Year Markets in Chinatown's Belmore Park. With more than 50 stalls offering food, traditional gifts, produce and crafts and non-stop entertainment and activities, the Markets are a wonderful way to experience Chinese Australian culture. New in 2009 is the Live Green House, an interactive urban home demonstrating sustainable lifestyle solutions to both house and apartment dwellers.

Chinese New Year Twilight Parade
Date: Sunday 21 February 2010
Time: 7:45pm to 9:45pm
Venue: Town Hall to Chinatown

Sydney's streets will again be filled with lanterns, lights, dragons and dancers for the 2010 Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, celebrating the Year of the Tiger. The inaugural Twilight Parade in 2009 involved more than 2,600 performers and drew crowds of approximately 100,000 people to the Festival's most beautiful event. 

Local and international participants are planning some spectacular parade entries and performances celebrating Chinese Australian culture and the Lunar New Year. Come to the parade early to secure a good viewing location, and follow the Parade to Darling Harbour afterwards to celebrate with a fireworks display.

Dragon Boat Races
Date: Saturday 27 February - Sunday 28 February 2010
Time: Saturday and Sunday 8am to 5pm
Venue: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour

This traditional Chinese sport is a Chinese New Year Festival favourite. City of Sydney's Festival races have become the biggest dragon boat meet in the South hemisphere.

Up to 22 people in each boat paddle to the beat of the drum in a hard fought competition to reach the finish line. Make sure you visit Cockle Bay this weekend to enjoy all the thrills and excitement of the non-stop racing.


For further information, and Festival Event listings (from January 2010), visit www.sydneychinesenewyear.com.au

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