Chinese New Year Festival 2009 - Sydney
Direct Phone Number : (02) 9265 9333
Return to Sydney
From 2009/01/23
To 2009/02/15
Featuring more than 50 events over three weeks, the City of Sydney's 2009 Chinese New Year Festival will be the largest celebration of the Lunar New Year outside of Asia.
From 23 January to 15 February, more than 600,000 people are expected to crowd the streets of Sydney to celebrate the Year of the Ox and all things Chinese.
For the first time in 2009, the famous parade will move to night time to become the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, featuring spectacular lanterns, floats and performers illuminating the parade route.
With events covering culture, sports, food, performing and visual arts and history there is something on offer to interest any taste.
Friday 23 January - Launch Celebration at Belmore Park.
Firecrackers, lions and dragons create an explosive start to the Year of the Ox in Chinatown's Belmore Park. Everyone is invited to join the celebration to launch the Festival, with entertainment from the very best Australian and Chinese performers. With the famous Chinatown Markets on at the same time in Belmore Park there is so much to see and do, so come early and stay late and enjoy one of Sydney's favourite summer events.
Friday 23 January to Sunday 25 January - Chinese New Year Markets at Belmore Park.
Sydney's famous Chinese New Year Markets are bigger and better than ever in 2009. Fresh produce, Chinese New Year gifts and mouth watering foods will transform Belmore Park into a colourful and exotic Asian market village. Get involved in the Chinese themed crafts, games, cooking demonstrations and physical activities all weekend for a unique Year of the Ox experience.
Sunday 1 February - Chinese New Year Twilight Parade.
For the first time in 2009, the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade will feature twelve spectacular zodiac lantern floats, lighting effects and performers lighting up the parade route in our first evening Parade. Featuring 2,500 performers including 600 people and floats from China's Henan Province and local Chinese community groups, this year's Parade promises to be the most exciting and beautiful yet.
Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February - Dragon Boat Races at Darling Harbour.
Up to 3,000 paddlers bring Chinese New Year to Darling Harbour during two exciting days of the Dragon Boat Races. While sporting, social and corporate teams battle it out for the honours on the water, Chinese lions and dragons roam through the site and Chinese foods and gifts on offer from the Markets keep the huge crowd of spectators happy all weekend.
Visit our website for more details about the Chinese New Year Festival.
2009 Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is proudly produced by City of Sydney
