Lunar New Year is here, and there’s lots of celebrations around Melbourne that will help you welcome the Year of the Snake with style. See traditional lion dances bring in prosperity and good fortune, take part in festivals, try some fun activities and more. This year, Lunar New Year will take place on Wednesday January 29, and there’s plenty of cool things to do around Melbourne. Are you ready to celebrate?
1. Visit Chinatown for the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival
Visit the historic Chinatown, and celebrate at the Chinese Lunar New Year Festival. Look forward to a dragon parade, live performances, lion dance troupes, a beer garden and bustling food stalls. There will also be activities for the kids in the Golden Square Open Air Car Park The festivities will run from 10am to 8pm on Sunday February 2.
Little Bourke St, Melbourne VIC 3000
2. Celebrate at Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market will have a lion dance performance at Summer Night Market on Wednesday January 29, and the following morning on Thursday January 30. You can also visit the Wishing Tree in the Queen’s Food Hall to share your dreams for the year, and explore the Lucky Cats displays on Queen Street.
📍Queen St, Melbourne VIC 3000
3. Celebrate the Year of the Snake at Crown
Crown Melbourne is painting the town red with their vibrant range of Lunar New Year festivities. Look out for roving lion and dragon dances around the venue and pop by the Atrium Staircase to learn more about the Legend of the White Snake with a show from the HGYS Martial Arts School. Restaurants like the Conservatory and Silks will also have special culinary experiences to celebrate the season. The festivities are on from now until February 9. Learn more here.
📍8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
4. See what’s happening at QV Melbourne
QV Melbourne will have a few different things going on for Lunar New Year. Pop by for their festival weekend on February 1 and 2, and look forward to lion dances, dragon dances and martial arts performances. In QV Square, you’ll find an interactive Snakes & Ladders experience, which you can play from now until February 9. The restaurant Old Beijing will also have traditional Lunar New Year dishes to try from now until February 11.
📍Cnr Lonsdale Street and Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
5. Check out the Chinese Museum
The Chinese Museum has a few things for you to do to welcome the Year of the Snake. Explore an exhibition that’s all about The Legend of the White Snake, attend a banquet and more. See what’s happening here.
📍22 Cohen Place, Melbourne, VIC 3000
6. Take part in the celebrations at NGV
NGV is welcoming the Year of the Snake with music, food and more. Take part in art-making activities, listen to a talk about culinary traditions, play a game of Mahjong and more. Entry is free, and the Lunar New Year festivities will run from 10am to 5pm on February 1 and 2. While you’re there, don’t miss the blockbuster Yayoi Kusama exhibition.
📍180 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3006
7. Celebrate Lunar New Year at Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum will have a heap of fun programs to help usher in the New Year. Watch lion and dragon dances, learn about snakes and more. The museum will celebrate Lunar New Year on Saturday February 1, from 10am to 2pm. Learn more here.
11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053
8. Treat yourself to a festive high tea at Dorsett Melbourne
Dorsett Melbourne has teamed up with T6 Patisserie Melbourne to create a lovely high tea for Lunar New Year. Indulge in sweet and savoury delights such as yuzu milk chocolate tart, pork char siu on milk bun, sesame garlic chive prawn toast, oolong scones and more. Limited sessions are available on February 1, 2, 8 and 9, from $80 per person.
📍615 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000
9. Check out the Lunar New Year Festival in Box Hill
If you live in the east, you’ll definitely want to head to Box Hill for this free, community festival. Expect performances, traditional arts, plenty of delicious food, amusement rides, a petting zoo and more. The festival will start at 10am and run until midnight on Saturday February 1. More info here.
Box Hill Town Hall, Bank Street, Box Hill 3128
10. Have fun at the Victoria Street Lunar Festival
Head to Victoria Street in Richmond, and celebrate the Year of the Snake by checking out their Lunar Festival. Look forward to plenty of performances and entertainment throughout the day, including lion dances and firecrackers. There will also be plenty of activities for the kids, as well as delicious street food. The festival will take place on Sunday February 2 from 12pm to 10pm. See more here.
📍Victoria St, Richmond VIC 3121
11. Listen to a performance from Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is celebrating the season with guest musicians from China. Conductor Lü Jia and pianist Haochen Zhang will perform masterpieces from the East and West. Check it out at Hamer Hall on Saturday February 8 at 7:30pm. See more here.
100 St Kilda Rd, Southbank VIC 3004
12. Frolic at Fed Square
Fed Square has a whole stack of performances and activities to celebrate Lunar New Year. Take part in Tai Chi, see the dragon dancers, and watch cultural performances from Korea, Vietnam and more. It’s on from 12pm to 4pm on Sunday February 9. Learn more here.
📍Fed Square, Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne VIC 3000
13. Pop over to Preston Market for more festivities
Preston Market is bringing back their annual Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday February 9. Look forward to lion dances, stilt walkers, a free workshop for kids and pop-up food stalls from Kori Ice Cream, Joy Jaune and more. It’s all happening from 9am to 3pm. Learn more here.
📍0A The Centreway, Preston VIC 3072
14. Have fun at the Wyndham Multicultural Lunar Festival
This community festival in Point Cook attracts over 20,000 people each year. Head to Point Cook Town Centre and find plenty of cultural performances and live music, as well as stalls, an animal farm, food trucks, activities for the kids and more. Check it out on Sunday February 9. More info here.
📍Main St, Point Cook VIC 3030
15. Listen to music in Williamstown
Wander over to Commonwealth Reserve in Williamstown and listen to music. Hosted by local guzheng artist QiQi, you can expect Chinese opera, a visit from the god of fortune, dazzling performances and more. Check it out on Sunday February 15 from 11am to 3pm. See more here.
📍Commonwealth Reserve, 181A Nelson Pl, Williamstown VIC 3016
16. Check out the Vietnamese TET Lunar New Year Festival
The Vietnamese Community in Australia is bringing their TET Festival back to the Eastern Lawn Footscray Park. Taking place on Saturday February 15 and Sunday February 16, this free event will feature performances, exhibits, food, fireworks and activities for all ages. It’s on from 11am to 9pm. See more here.
📍40 Maribyrnong Blvd, Footscray VIC 3011