FCA Melbourne Chinese New Year Festival

The Melbourne FCA 2011 - Year of the Rabbit- Chinese New Year Festival will feature traditional and contemporary Chinese cultural activities, festivities, dances, Chinese opera and singing, karaoke competition, numerous stalls of culinary delights, arts and crafts, Chinese chess competitions, lion dances, dragon parades, calligraphy and children's events.

This festival is open to all, young and old and its aim is to share the Chinese Cultural heritage of Melbourne's Chinese community. In recent years the festival has been one of Melbourne's most celebrated festivals and is great for the whole family.

On Sunday the 6th February 2011, we will celebrate the actual Chinese New Year day, and hope for new fortunes and prosperity. The Millennium Dragon will be awakened to parade through the streets of Melbourne's Chinatown.

The 2011 Festival will begin on Chinese New Year’s Eve on Sunday 6th February. The Premier of Victoria and the Lord Mayor of Melbourne will officially launch the Festival. There will be the lighting of strings of firecrackers, to usher in the New Year of the Tiger and chase away the bad spirits of the old year.

In line with Chinese tradition, there will be numerous displays of lions dances punctuated by beating drums and fire-crackers. During the day, the stages will showcase many cultural performances by Melbourne's great multicultural local communities and visiting Performance Arts Group from China.

Touching the Dragon will bring great luck and fortune. The Chinese Lions will be out in force and Chinatown will be abuzz with drums, firecrackers, music, singing, food and families celebrating the Year of the Tiger.

Road closure details can be found on the City of Melbourne website.