Melbourne will come alive this January as the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival welcomes the Year of the Rat

Melbournians will rejoice as the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival welcomes in the Lunar New Year in 2020. For 16 days from January 24th to February 9th, the city will erupt with colour and excitement as some of Melbourne’s most treasured landmarks host spectacular events. Melbourne Museum, Queen Victoria Market, Queensbridge Square, and the Docklands are just some of the iconic locations where the festivities will take place.

The celebrations officially open at Queensbridge Square on January 24th to celebrate the Year of the Rat with dazzling performances, exquisite clothing from an array of ancient dynasties, 13 traditional food stalls, along with a fantastic light show and a slew of activities available for all ages.

The Dragon Boat Regatta at Victoria Harbour Promenade Docklands is a must-see spectacle at this year’s festival, where members of the public can form teams to race authentic dragon boats. The public races will be followed by a competitive Dragon Boat Regatta run by Dragon Boat Victoria, attracting teams from Mildura to Mount Beauty and everywhere in between.

Queensbridge Square will burst with excitement, parading traditional cultural performances, family activities and workshops, thirteen delicious pop-up food stores and more from Friday January 24th to Sunday January 26th. Additional activities include Lion dances, a special dinner for international students, family days at various sites across the city, Chinese costume shows, stilt walking displays and opera performances.

The Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival acknowledges the support of its principal partner, City of Melbourne, Major Partner, The Victorian Multicultural Commission, as well as the support of Museums Victoria, Queen Victoria Market, The State of Victoria and the Federation of Chinese Associations.

The program features an array of colourful events and activities across Melbourne, including:

Chinese New Year at Queensbridge Square

The Official Opening of the 2020 Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival
Date: Friday 24.01.20
Time: 17:00 – 00:30
Location: Queensbridge Square - 3 Queensbridge St, Southbank VIC 3006

Queensbridge Square will host the official opening of the 2020 Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival. Visitors will enjoy an array of cultural performances as well as thirteen pop-up food stores will line the square with delicious Chinese foods to try. There will also be a host of activities for the entire family to enjoy including traditional shadow puppet workshops! Families will enjoy the sun sets over the beautiful Yarra River before Queensbridge Square will erupt with colour as a special lighting display enchants the square.

The official opening ceremony will take place between 20:00 and 21:00 and will include an array of colourful cultural performances. As the clock strikes midnight and the year of the Rat officially begins, the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival team will be handing out 1000 free dumplings to celebrate!

Queensbridge Lunar New Year’s Day
Date: Saturday 25.01.20
Time: 10:00 – 22:00
Location: 3 Queensbridge St, Southbank VIC 3006

Day program: 10:00 – 18:00
New Year’s Day celebrations will take over Queensbridge Square with children’s activities and workshops to keep the whole family entertained or hours! Learn how to play traditional Chinese instruments, Chinese checkers, and get a photo with Caishen, the god of wealth and fortune. The square will once again be bursting with fragrant foods as food stalls envelope the space. A fantastic day for all ages!

Evening program: 18:00 – 22:00
As the suns sets across Melbourne’s skyline, Queensbridge Square will come to life with an enchanting lighting display and magnificent cultural performances that is sure to dazzle visitors big and small. An array of delicious foods will be on offer to celebrate the new year in true Melbourne style – an occasion that is not to be missed!

Queensbridge CNY Family Day
Date: Sunday 26.01.20
Time: 10:00 – 23:00
Location: Queensbridge Square - 3 Queensbridge St, Southbank VIC 3006

Day Program: 10:00 – 18:00 and Evening program: 18:00 – 23:00
Queensbridge Square will once again come alive with children’s activities and workshops to keep the whole family entertained for hours! A treat for the sense as delightful smells fill the air and vivid colours fill the sky and the lighting display comes to life! Children’s activities, and cultural performances will ensure that the whole family is entertained filled with laughter.

Chinese New Year in the Heart of Melbourne

International Student Night at Multicultural Hub
Date: Sunday 09.02.20
Time: 18:30 – 23:00
Location: Multicultural Hub – 506 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.

We are thrilled to once again present the International Students Night, celebrating Melbourne’s diverse student population with music, food and lots of laughter. Hear from inspirational students, watch colourful performances and enjoy a visit from Caishen, the god of wealth and prosperity! The International Students’ Night is a chance to make new connections with fellow students while celebrating the new year!

Chinese New Year at Queen Victoria Market
Queen Victoria Market Family Day
Date: Saturday 25.01.20
Time: 11:00 – 13:00
Location: Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne’s Queen Victoria Market will come to life with festive food, music and performances in celebration of this Lunar New Year. Alongside delicious food stalls, visitors will enjoy art and craft workshops, cultural performances including Lion Dance.

Chinese New Year at Melbourne Museum
Melbourne Museum Family Weekend
Date: Saturday 08.02.20 and Sunday 09.02.20
Time: 10:00 – 14:00
Location: Melbourne Museum – 11 Nicholson St, Carlton VIC 3053

Head down to the iconic Melbourne Museum for a day of family fun and entertainment. Children and parents alike will enjoy face painting, cultural music and performances and a traditional Chinese zodiac display. A colourful day not to be missed to enjoy in the final days of the summer school holidays.

Chinese New Year at Docklands
District Docklands Celebration
Date: Saturday 08.02.20 and Sunday 09.02.20
Time: 11:00 – 19:30
Location: District Docklands

Celebrate the new year in style at District Docklands! Children’s activities, food stalls and vibrant cultural performances will envelop the district and are sure to dazzle visitors big and small!

Social Dragon Boat Regatta – Community Day
Date: Saturday 08.02.20
Time: 08:00 – 17:00
Location: Harbour Town Docklands

Dragon Boat racing has been practiced for more than 2000 years, making it one of China’s oldest and most revered traditions. In the Chinese culture, the Dragon is a symbol for good luck and is said to live within the sea and in the clouds, controlling the rainfall. Over the years the racing has come to symbolise a ritual to bring luck and prosperity to a city. Dragon Boat Melbourne is working with the festival in making the Community Dragon Boat Regatta an opportunity for everyone to get involved in the tradition of fun, with any organisation, company, association, or group of friends able to form a team to be part of this event. The training would be provided. Running throughout the day and in conjunction with other cultural performances, the afternoon will finish off with a presentation to crown the Community Teams winners. In addition to the dragon boat racing and drills, paddlers and spectators will enjoy food stalls, cultural performances throughout the day.

Club Dragon Boat Regatta – Club Day
Date: Sunday 09.02.20
Time: 08:00 – 17:00
Location: Harbour Town Dockland

Just like the Saturday edition, the Sunday Dragon Boat Regatta is reserved for official dragon boat clubs. Dragon boat clubs from across Victoria will descend on docklands to compete in various sprints and drills. This is the largest event of its kind in Victoria and one of the largest in the country. In addition to the dragon boat racing and drills, paddlers and spectators will enjoy food stalls, cultural performances throughout the day.

The Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival is brought to you by the following partners:

Principal Partner: City of Melbourne

Major Sponsors: Victorian Multicultural Commission and The State of Victoria

Activation Partners: Queen Victoria Market; The District Docklands; Dragon Boat Victoria and Museums Victoria

Event Sponsors: Central Equity, Stonemart; H & T, Premier Freight Forwarding and Blessed Yang Pty. Ltd.

For more information on the Chinese New Year Melbourne Festival 2020, please visit: www.cnymelbournefestival.com.au