Haymarket’s bustling dining and shopping destination, Market City, is gearing up to celebrate Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Snake. From 8 January to 16 February, Market City will come to life with a series of exciting activities including exhilarating high pole lion dance performances, free kids workshops, exclusive dishes, giveaways and more.
Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, prosperity, and family reunion, where loved ones gather to celebrate the coming year with joyous meals, traditional performances, and cultural experiences. Rooted in centuries-old traditions, the festival symbolises health, wealth, and happiness. This year, Market City is proud to bring a series of vibrant events to life in celebration of the festival, with highlights including:
- High Pole Lion Dance Performances: Acrobatic lion dances will be performed by the spectacular Jin Wu Koon troupes on 3-metre-high poles in Centre Court, showcasing this ancient tradition. This free performance includes a giveaway of lucky red envelopes and Year of the Snack plush toys. Saturday 1 February at 2pm and 6pm, Sunday 2 February at 2pm.
- Exclusive Lunar New Year Dishes: The Dolar Shop Hot Pot and FUJI seafood restaurant will showcase bespoke dishes celebrating the Lunar New Year, available throughout the festival.
- Lucky Red Packet Giveaways: Over 5,000 red packets containing retail and dining vouchers, bespoke Year of the Snake tattoos, and gold chocolate coins will be distributed by the Lunar street crew. Thursday 23rd to Friday 31st January.
- Kids Lion Dance Workshops: Little ones can get involved with Market City’s interactive lion dance workshops. Sessions will run at 2pm, 3pm, and 5pm on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th February.
- Chinese Calligraphy & Traditional Art Workshops: Daily workshops offer an immersive experience in Chinese culture for both kids and adults, through traditional calligraphy and art. 10th-28th January, 31st January-2nd February, 7th-8th February.
- Roaming Lion Dance Store Blessings: Jin Wu Koon’s troupe will bless stores across Market City with their roaming lion dance performance. Sunday 2nd February from 3:45-5pm.
- Lunar New Year Décor: Market City will be transformed with bespoke decorations, including custom-designed inflatable snakes in Centre Court and a towering display of neon signs featuring messages of health, wealth, and happiness.
- Lunar New Year Street Festival: On 1 February, the celebration will spill out onto surrounding streets with the City Of Sydney Lunar Streets festival offering a vibrant street festival featuring street stalls, cultural performances, and community entertainment.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the Lunar New Year and bring its vibrant traditions to Market City,” says Ray Khoury, Centre Manager, Market City. “This year, our celebrations are bigger and brighter than ever before, and we’re excited to share a truly immersive experience with our community filled with spectacular performances, traditional cuisine and activities for all ages.”
For more information, visit Market City’s website, Instagram and Facebook. Market City is located at 9-13 Hay St, Haymarket NSW 2000.