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Celebrate Chinese New Year 2025 in Melbourne: Best Family Events
The Chinese New Year 2025 marks the arrival of the Wood Snake, a rare and meaningful zodiac pairing that occurs once every 60 years. Representing wisdom, transformation, growth, stability, and creativity, the Wood Snake brings a unique energy to this year’s celebrations. Also known as Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year is the most significant event in the Chinese calendar, celebrated with vibrant traditions and cultural festivities.
In 2025, Melbourne will host a variety of family-friendly Chinese New Year events, offering colourful parades, performances, and interactive activities for all ages.
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Melbourne Chinese Lunar New Year Festival 2025
Celebrate in the heart of Chinatown with the Millennium Dragon Parade, vibrant lion dances, and a mix of live traditional and modern performances.
Enjoy delicious Asian street food, relax at the beer garden, and keep kids entertained with activities in the Kid’s Area at Golden Square Open Air Car Park.
Spanning Lonsdale and Bourke Streets, and Little Bourke Street from Swanston to Exhibition Streets, this festival offers culture, food, and family fun.
Date: 2 Feb 2025
Time: 10 am – 8 pm
Location: Chinatown, Russell Street, Melbourne
Price: FREE
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Melbourne Museum
Welcome 2025 with a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration at Melbourne Museum, featuring traditional performances, engaging activities, and enriching experiences for all ages. From dragon dances to scavenger hunts and cultural storytelling, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Highlights
Dragon Dance
Saturday 1 February 2025
10 am, Main Foyer
Experience the energy of traditional Dragon and Lion dances with colourful costumes, dynamic choreography, and rhythmic drumbeats.
Zodiac Quest Competition
28 January – 2 February 2025
Daily, Museum Galleries
Take part in a scavenger hunt through the galleries for a chance to win a family trip to Europe, courtesy of Air China.
Lunar Storytime
Saturday 1 February 2025
12 pm, Main Foyer
Join Melbourne-based writer Rebecca Lim as she shares her book Our Family Dragon.
Guzheng and Fan Dance Performance
Saturday 1 February 2025
10.45 am & 11.15 am, Main Foyer
Enjoy the beautiful sounds of the guzheng and the elegance of a fan dance performed by QiQi and Madison Lu.
Date: Saturday 1 February 2025
Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Location: Melbourne Museum, 11 Nicholson Street, Carlton
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Celebrate Lunar New Year at Crown Melbourne
Join the Lunar New Year festivities at Crown Melbourne and celebrate the Year of the Snake with thrilling Lion and Dragon Dances and the Atrium Show.
Lion & Dragon Dances
28 January – 9 February 2025
3.30 pm – 5 pm & 6 pm – 7.45 pm
Enjoy vibrant lion dances and dragon performances during two daily shows, offering fun and entertainment for the whole family.
Atrium Show
28 January – 2 February 2025
4 – 9 February 2025
7 pm & 9 pm
Crown and the HGYS Martial Arts School will explore a part of the Legend of the White Snake and how the white and green snakes become friends. In this tale, the white and green snakes are represented by the HGYS Martial Arts Demonstration team and the White and Green HGYS Lions.
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Lunar New Year Activities at NGV
Ring in the Lunar New Year with two days of food, music, and art at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV). Explore the Yayoi Kusama exhibition, immerse yourself in her vibrant world of polka dots and pumpkins. Families can take part in a Lunar New Year art-making workshop led by Melbourne-based artist Yiwon Park.
Experience the face-changing performances (Bian Lian) by Haidilao performers and the high-energy lion dance by Hong De Lion Dance Association.
Or take a break with a relaxing game of Mahjong in the Garden while kids play under a sky filled with bubbles.
Date: 1 – 2 Feb 2025
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Location: NGV International
Price: FREE
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Queen Victoria Market
Celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake at Queen Victoria Market with cultural festivities, mouthwatering cuisine, and fun for the whole family. Enjoy a Lion Dance performance on Thursday, 30 January 2025, starting at 10 am from Mary Martin Bookshop in String Bean Alley. Don’t miss another lively performance at the Summer Night Market on Wednesday, 29 January 2025.
Visit the Wishing Tree in the Queen’s Food Hall to share your hopes for the year ahead. Explore the Lucky Cats displays and admire the stunning Chinese lanterns lining the perimeter of Queen Street.
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Lunar New Year Activities at Fed Square
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Fed Square with a series of exciting events as part of Open Air at the Square.
Bruce Lee Bonanza
Friday 7 February 2025 (Fist of Fury), at 8.30 pm
Saturday 8 February 2025 (The Way of the Dragon), 8.30 pm
A two-night double feature of Kung Fu classics: Fist of Fury (1972) and The Way of the Dragon (1972).
Lunar New Year Celebrations
Sunday 9 February 2025, 12 – 4pm
Enjoy free performances, cultural workshops, and traditional dragon and lion dances.
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We try our best to provide accurate information on kid-friendly events around Victoria but do recommend parents check details directly to confirm dates, times, prices as some details may be subject to change.
