Hurstville is to host the biggest Lunar New Year festival in Sydney.
This is the promise made last week at the launch of Georges River Council’s Summer Events program.
“This the second biggest Lunar New Year Festival in Sydney but this year I believe we will have the biggest in Sydney with 45,000 people expected to enjoy the festival coming from all areas of Sydney,” Georges River Council administrator John Rayner said.
The council’s 2016-17 Summer Events Program begins with the sixth annual Magic of Christmas event on Saturday, December 10 in Carss Bush Park from 5pm to 8pm.
There will be seasonal stalls offering food and drink, and live shows including the Care Bears Christmas show, singing and dancing with Frosty the Snowman and a festive performance by the Smurfs, Christmas carols and the traditional appearance of Santa and Mrs Claus.
Families are encouraged to bring their own picnic to enjoy during the event’s performances.
The council’s Australia Day Festival will be held on Thursday, January 26 from 10am at Carss Bush Park.
This will include live performances, entertainment, market stalls and multicultural food outlets with the event culminating in the traditional fireworks spectacular over Kogarah Bay.
The 2017 Lunar New Year Street Festival will held at Hurstville on Saturday, February 4 and Kogarah Lunar New Year Celebrations in Kogarah Town Square, Thursday, February 9.
There will also be a number of activities held across the council’s libraries and museum to welcome the Year of the Rooster.
This will include the Lunar New Year exhibition at the Dragon’s Lair Gallery, Hurstville Museum and Gallery opening January 21, 2017.
Called Wu Xing this explores the Chinese theory of the five elements of wood, fire, earth, metal and water.
Mr Rayner congratulated the former Hurstville and Kogarah councils for fostering the Lunar New Year festival over the years.
“Georges River Council will be celebrating Lunar New Year for the 14th consecutive year which means the former Hurstville and Kogarah councils had the vision to embrace this festival, so well done,” he said.
Lunar New Year Festival committee member Dominic Sin said organisers of the 2017 festivals at Hurstville and Kogarah hope to attract between 40,000 to 45,000 people.
This is not just a Chinese festival. It is a community festival, a family festival, to celebrate our rich community, he said.
“It is a good opportunity for local families from St George and across Sydney to come and celebrate the beginning of another year.”