Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney, including the best free events across the city

The Lunar New Year of 2025 is approaching, and Sydney residents are actively preparing to welcome a series of celebrations held throughout the city. This is a time of joy, reflection, and renewal, where various Asian cultures will come together to celebrate this festival and pass on its underlying meanings and customs.

The Lunar New Year's date is determined based on a calendar that combines lunar and solar cycles. The celebrations are not limited to the Chinese community and its overseas diaspora; many Asian countries, including Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia, also celebrate this festival.

Although the rituals and duration of celebrations may vary across different cultures, a common theme is that the Year of the Snake symbolizes healing, rebirth, and new beginnings. A variety of Lunar New Year events will be held throughout Sydney, including dragon boat races, street festivals, lion dances, lantern parades, and more.

In Darling Harbour, the Chinese Garden of Friendship will host traditional tea ceremonies and tasting events on February 1st and 8th, with adult tickets at $12 AUD and children's tickets at $8 AUD. Additionally, there will be Lunar New Year fireworks displays at Cockle Bay on the same dates, February 1st and 8th, with free admission. The Chinese Garden of Friendship will also present the Story of the Snake performances on February 2nd and 9th, with the same ticket prices as the tea ceremony. On February 7th, 8th, and 9th, Cockle Bay will host exciting dragon boat races, which are free to watch. Spectators will witness the spectacular sight of 12-meter-long dragon boats racing in Cockle Bay.

In Haymarket, the Haymarket Street Festival will be held on Dixon Street on February 1st, with free admission. On February 2nd, there will be lion dance performances on Hay Street, also free of charge. Hay Street will also feature Lunar New Year-themed gateways, showcasing the architectural features of China, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, on display until February 16th, with free admission. The Darling Harbour area will feature a Korean dance floor, open until February 16th, with free participation. Burwood Chinatown will host a Lunar New Year street party on Burwood Road on January 31st, with free admission, and will hold a series of celebrations on February 1st.

In Chatswood, a Lunar New Year Celebration Day will be held on Victoria Avenue on February 1st, with free admission. On the same day, there will also be a lantern parade, also free of charge. The streets of Chatswood will be filled with symbols of the Year of the Snake. Additionally, the Willoughby City Library will host a Japanese story time for children on February 3rd, free of charge. Cabramatta will host a Lunar New Year Festival in Cabramatta Town Centre on February 15th, with free admission, as it is home to the largest Vietnamese population in Australia.

In Eastwood, a Lunar New Year Festival will be held at Eastwood Oval on February 8th, with free admission. The Eastwood Library will host a paper quilling workshop on February 6th, free of charge. In Prairiewood, a Vietnamese New Year Festival will be held at the Fairfield Showground on February 7th, 8th, and 9th, with adult tickets at $8 AUD and children over five years old at $5 AUD. Parramatta will host Lunar New Year events at Centenary Square on February 1st, with free admission. Lunar New Year celebrations take place in many communities across Asia.