Sydney Lunar Festival

Overview

Haymarket's Lunar New Year festival is gearing up to return for its 28th edition, taking over Dixon, Thomas, Hay, Sussex, Harbour and George Streets for 16 days from Saturday, February 10–February 25.

Sydney Lunar Festival is rolling out a diverse program of live performances, street food and market stalls, all celebrating the Year of the Dragon. Highlights include lion dancing, culinary pop-ups, live music and dragon boat racing over at Cockle Bay.

Festivities will kick off with a Haymarket street festival, hitting Chinatown from 5pm on Saturday, February 10. Head in to soak in the sound and colour while sampling eats from Mapo, Just Fry, The Food Trap, Ensaymada and Sangee's Kitchen.

City of Sydney

On Saturday, February 17, the Sydney Lunar New Year Market will be popping up with more than 20 local artists and small businesses presenting everything from ceramics and prints to food and drinks. And on the same day Fascinating Thaitown will be happening on Campbell and George Street, with a Thaitown market, long drum procession and Thai beer garden.

And, on the final Saturday of the festivities, families are invited to take part in a Lunar New Year scavenger hunt titled the Great Dragon Race. If you're one of the 20 winners of the hunt, you will take home a 3D-printed dragon (which sounds hardcore and amazing).

There are also plenty more places to feast across the 16 days 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. Ho Jiak's Chinese New Year menu features fortune chicken, yee sang and sizzling tofu, while Royal Palace Seafood is adding exclusive dishes to its menu during the New Year season.

If you want to have the decisions taken out of your hands, you can take the Taste of Chinatown tour, running a few times a week throughout February.