Thousands turned out to welcome in the Year of the Dog at Georges River Council’s Lunar New Year Festival held in Forest Road today.
Now in its 15th year, the Hurstville event is believed to be the biggest Lunar New Year Festival held outside the Sydney CBD.
The festival attracts tens of thousands of people, not only from the Georges River local government area but from across Sydney.
For its first Lunar New Year Festival since the council election, Georges River Council pulled out all stops introducing an expanded program of entertainment.
This included for the first time in the festival’s history, a vibrant street parade along Forest Road.
Georges River mayor Kevin Greene said the Lunar New Year Festival is a celebration of the
Georges River area’s diversity and is a fantastic way of showcasing the unique
cultures that make the local area.
“Council will be welcoming in the Year of the Dog with several spectacular live performances, and 70 market stalls throughout Forest Road,” Cr Greene said.
“The Festival area has also been expanded to allow for more amusement rides, kids’ activities and spectacles the whole family can enjoy.”
Entertainment included popular Australian-Chinese pop singers Leslie Lee of the Chinese group The Dreamers, and Jacquely Wang, winner of the 2012 TVB International New Talent Singing Competition for the Sydney Region.
Jacquely is the leading singer for the Chinese National Anthem for the Consulate General of the
People’s Republic of China.
The festival is just one of a number of events being held by the council to celebrate Lunar New Year including exhibitions, talks and cultural events.
For more information about Georges River Council’s Lunar New Year Festival, visit
www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.