Sydney celebrates Chinese New Year with a traditional lion dance performance, as well as firecrackers, market stalls and Twilight Parade.
A ritual that originates from Chinese legend and is said to ward off evil spirits, the Chinese lion dance has been the centrepiece of Sydney's Chinese New Year Festival for the past 18 years.
“Our Chinese New Year celebrations are the largest outside Mainland China," says Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "In all the excitement, there will be something for everyone”.
As well as experiencing the flamboyant costumes and pounding drums of the traditional lion dancers, visitors to this year's Chinese New Year Festival can see marital art performances at Darling Harbour's Chinese Garden of Friendship and take part in the Twilight Parade.
Beginning at Sydney Town Hall, the event welcomes in the Year of the Horse with bands, dance performances and light projections.
Chintatown Lion Dances run on January 26 and 27 and February 1 and 2 throughout Sydney Chinatown.
