Sydney Lunar Festival

Haymarket's Lunar New Year festival is gearing up to return for its 27th edition, taking over Dixon, Hay, Sussex and Harbour Streets for 16 days between Saturday, January 21 and Sunday, February 5.

Sydney Lunar Festival is rolling out a diverse program of live performances, lion dances, street food and market stalls, all celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. Highlights include the dragon boat races which kick off from Cockle Bay Wharf on Saturday, January 28; the Lunar Spectacular cultural performances on Saturday, February 4; the Thai Town Lunar Fest at Metro Hotel Marlow; and the lion dancing — traditional shows set to pop up at Dixon Street Mall at 7.30pm and 8pm each Friday–Sunday, as well as the Town Hall steps at midday and 12.30pm Monday–Thursday.

City of Sydney

There are also plenty more places to feast during the festival, of course. Alongside all of the beloved Haymarket stalwarts serving up their classic menus, there's a heap of exclusive Lunar-themed menus and meals being rolled out. Haymarket Chamber of Commerce will host a Chinese New Year Banquet on Friday, February 3; Gong Grocer will be running a gift shop and snack bar pop-up on Tumbalong Boulevard; and deeper into the city, Spice Temple is offering a Lunar New Year banquet menu.

"Every year the Sydney Lunar Festival brings brilliant sights, sounds and scents to Haymarket attracting tens of thousands of people to this amazing corner of our city," City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said. "We've just seen Neon Playground bring some flash and vibrancy to Chinatown with block parties, food fairs and strong visitor numbers. We plan to carry that great vibe over into the City of Sydney's lunar celebrations."

The festival arrives after the City of Sydney announced a major plan to revamp Chinatown, including a $5 million investment into reviving Dixon Street Mall.