SYDNEY’S CHINESE NEW YEAR SET TO BE A CRACKER

Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival will launch next week with more than 80 events in what is the largest Lunar New Year celebration outside Asia. The Festival is expected to attract more than 600,000 visitors.

This year an exhibition of the Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors will wow audiences during their Australian debut at Dawes Point, while crowds of more than 130,000 will be drawn to the internationally-renowned Twilight Parade’s spectacle of floats, lanterns, dancers, building projections and fireworks.

Dragon boat races, kids’ events, tours, performances, workshops and a feast of sensational Asian food will also feature as part of the Festival.

Sydney Chinese New Year 2015 highlights include:

Festival Launch – 13 February

The buzz of Sydney Chinese New Year Festival begins with a launch at Dawes Point. Lions will leap to life with the clash of cymbals, beat of drums and din of firecrackers to scare away last year’s misfortune.

Lanterns of the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition – 13–22 February

Larger-than-life Terracotta Warrior Lanterns will glow against the backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Created by Chinese artist Xia Nan for the Beijing Olympic Games, 90 warrior lanterns standing 2.1m tall and two warrior horses will light up in brilliant bursts of colour. The exhibition is inspired by the famous army of Terracotta Warriors uncovered in the tomb of China’s first Emperor in 1974.

Lunar Streets – 14 February

A brand-new event for Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival, Lunar Streets will offer a feast of Asian food in the heart of Haymarket. Devour your favourite dish or discover a new taste sensation – in Koreatown, Thaitown and Chinatown – as each street celebrates the unique flavours and culture of their particular homeland. Starting at dusk and running late, glowing lanterns on long dining tables will light up Lunar Streets amid colourful performances.

Lunar Feasts – 13 February–1 March

Lunar Feasts returns as Sydney’s restaurants serve up tantalising, set-price meals during Chinese New Year. Whether you’re after a vegan banquet or a spicy taste sensation, you’re sure to discover a mouth-watering way to celebrate the Year of the Sheep.

Twilight Parade – 22 February

This year’s Twilight Parade will honour all things sheep, with lanterns, floats and projections lighting up city streets and buildings. There will be entertainment for everyone around dusk before dozens of floats and almost 3,000 performers parade from Sydney Town Hall to Chinatown, ending with fireworks at Darling Harbour. Also keep an eye open for giant merinos, Bo Peeps, knitting grannies and more sheep than you can count.

Dragon Boat Races – 28 February–1 March

The Dragon Boat Races is the biggest competitive event in Australia’s dragon boat racing calendar, with 3,000 paddlers racing over two full days in Darling Harbour. View all the action from a 90-metre viewing pontoon at Cockle Bay as the boats’ carved dragon head and tail thrust forward on the back of paddle power.

A broad range of other events will also make up the Sydney Chinese New Year 2015 program.