The Best Things to Eat, See and Do to Celebrate Lunar New Year in Melbourne
Themed high teas, street parties, limited-edition cakes, karaoke, banquets and huge giveaways — now that's how you welcome in the Year of the Horse in Melbourne.
With the Year of the Snake officially kicking off soon, Melbourne's Lunar New Year festivities are popping up right across the city. You can join huge street parties in Chinatown, indulge in special banquets with lion dances and prizes, and buy some extra-special treats made just for the occasion.
However hard you want to go this year when celebrating Lunar New Year — whether you decide to stay in or go all out with a luxe night out on the town — this guide will have you sorted with heaps of the best bits. Check it all out here.
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Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival
Chinatown is going big this Lunar New Year, closing off Little Bourke Street (between Swanston Street and Exhibition Street) on Sunday, February 22, for a massive street party. During the day, you can expect to find plenty of food stalls, restaurant dining deals, a dragon parade, live music and a pop-up beer garden. The official party lasts from 10am–10pm, but the street will be closed to cars until 2am.
You can easily keep the party going by hitting up these late-night dining spots, dumpling houses, ramen joints, and Melbourne CBD diners.
Quang Minh Tet Festival
Quang Minh Temple is an important spiritual centre in Melbourne's West. And it's annual Tet Festival provides a really brilliant opportunity for the local community, Vietnamese, Chinese Buddhists and non-Buddhists to come together and explore and experience the beauty and richness of Lunar and Buddhist traditional celebrations.
This year's Quang Minh Tet Festival includes cultural performances and firecrackers, displays, rides, chanting, vegetarian food and midnight fireworks which mark the beginning of the new lunar year. It's running from Monday, February 16–Tuesday, February 17, and is a truly special Melbourne Lunar New Year event.
Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival
You don't have to run into the CBD for Lunar New Year celebrations this year, with plenty of local councils running their own festivities. And one that always goes off, is that found over in Sunshine. It's running from 12–10 pm on Sunday, February 8.
This year's festival is similar to previous years, featuring live entertainment, red pocket giveaways, street performers, face-painting, lion and dragon dancing, fireworks, indoor and outdoor dining options, kids' rides and plenty of market stalls. They're going out all year, closing off Hampshire Road for the whole day.
Vietnamese TET Lunar New Year Festival
The Vietnamese Community in Australia (Victoria Chapter)'s TET festival returns to Footscray Park this February with a free two-day program packed with performances, exhibits, food, fireworks and activities for all ages. You'll find most of the fun over at Footscray Park from Saturday. February 28–Sunday, March 1.
St Albans Lunar New Year
Head to Melbourne's West to catch the St Albans Lunar New Year Festival — the city's largest and longest-running Lunar New Year Festival. First held in 1998, this free multicultural shindig has become a sprawling annual tradition, taking over Alfrieda Street from 10am–10pm on Sunday, January 18.
On the agenda are traditional lion and dragon dances, alongside live music and cultural performances led by local and emerging artists. There's also non-stop tasty bites at street food stands and market stalls, as well as carnival rides for the kids. At 9.30pm, the sky comes to life with a family-friendly fireworks display.
Top image: Yum Sing House.
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