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Chinese New Year celebrations for families in Melbourne
Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year, is the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar, and this year marks the year of the Rabbit, symbolising longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. Chinese New Year starts on 22 January 2023.
This year Melbourne will light up with colourful family-friendly Chinese New Year celebrations, including:
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Chinatown Melbourne
Chinatown on Little Bourke Street Melbourne celebrates the food, music, art and culture of Melbourne’s Chinese and Asian communities.
Chinatown is hosting an all-day festival program that includes:
• CYSM Year of the Rabbit Showcase Performance (Lion Dancing) – 10.30 am
• Official Ceremony and Address (Main Stage) – 11.30 am
• Chinese Masonic Society Official Lion Dance Welcome (Main Stage) – 12.15 pm
• Millennium Dragon Parade (from the Main Stage) – 12.30 pm
• Giant Chinese Lunar Rabbit – Intrude by Parer Studios (206 Bourke St) – all-day
• Various Performances – 12.30 pm to 7 pm
• DJ: 7 pm to 9 pm
Date: Sunday 22 January 2023
Time: 10.30 am – 9 pm
Location: between Little Bourke and Russell Street
Price: FREE
Lunar New Year Celebrations at Melbourne Museum
Celebrate Lunar New Year at Melbourne Museum on Saturday 21 January 2023. Families can enjoy lion and dragon dances, create a sea bunny, and find their zodiac animal. If you would like to stay late, there will be DJs and food trucks on the Museum Plaza for Summer of Play.
Program highlights include:
• Lion and Dragon Dances – Melbourne Museum Foyer 10 am – 10.30 am
• Sea Bunnies for the Year of the Rabbit – Melbourne Museum Foyer 10 am – 2 pm
• Which Zodiac Animal Are You? – Melbourne Museum Foyer 10 am – 2 pm
• Plaza Nights: Lunar New Year’s Eve – Museum Plaza 5 pm – 11 pm
Date:
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Celebrate Lunar New Year at NGV
The NGV International is celebrating the year of the rabbit with a day of art, food, art-making activities, music and lion dance performances.
Celebration highlights include:
• Paper Lantern Workshop – 10 am – 3 pm
• Live DJ Set – NGV Garden 12pm – 4 pm
• Lion Dance Performances – 12.30 pm & 2.30 pm
• Classical Music Performance – 10.30 am
• K-Pop with NV Dance Studio – dance performance and workshop at 1.30 pm
• Tai Chi – Great Hall 11.45 am
Date: Sunday 22 January 2023
Time: 10 am – 3 pm
Location: NGV International, 180 St Kilda Road
Price: FREE
Lunar New Year at Fed Square
Fed Square is celebrating Lunar New Year with a range of exciting performances and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
Activities and performances include:
• FREE open-air Tai Chi class with Tai Chi Australia at 9.30 am
• Gentle Chinese Dance Performance at 11 am
• Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne – CYSM Dragon Dance – 1 pm – 1.30 pm
• Lunar New Year-themed ice cream giveaways from 12.30 pm (while stocks last).
Date: Sunday 22 January 2023
Time: 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Location: Main Square & Atrium, Fed Square
Price: FREE
Time: 9.30 am – 1.30 pm
Location: Main Square & Atrium, Fed Square
Price: FREE
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Celebrate Lunar New Year at Crown
Lunar New Year will come to life at Crown Melbourne, with a stunning Zodiac Spectacular lantern installation and lion dancers performance.
• Lion Dancers (The Atrium staircase) – 20 – 29 January 2023, 7 pm & 9 pm Daily (excluding 26 January 2023)
• Zodiac Spectacular (The Atrium) – 20 January 2023 – 12 February 2023
Location: The Atrium, Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank
Price: FREE
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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.
