Lion dancer on Cape and Woolley St. Photo: Gupi de Zavalia.
As part of the Lunar New Year festival and to celebrate the Year of the Tiger, Dickson will be transformed by an outdoor festival featuring performances, food, music and workshops.
This multicultural celebration will run from 27 January to 12 February and will include entertainment for the whole family starting at 6 pm Thursday through Saturday, along with workshops on Saturdays.
According to Chief Minister Andrew Barr, celebrating Lunar New Year in this way is important for the community.
“Holding the celebration over multiple weekends as a distributed event rather than one big street festival maximises COVID-safety as well as benefits to local businesses and the community,” Mr Barr said.
Lunar New Year is one of the most celebrated annual events in the world. The diverse communities that are an integral part of Canberra’s cultural landscape will showcase the different ways they celebrate. Businesses in Dickson have been invited to participate in the Lunar New Year celebration and will receive cumquat trees as a gift.
Dickson Place Manager Yana Young said she was excited for the three weekends of festivities.
“I look forward to the year of the water tiger bringing strength and prosperity to the community. My hope is that the people of Canberra will embrace this tradition from Asian countries like my own – Indonesia – and celebrate together year on year.”
Karma, one of the lLions that will be seen at the festival. Photo: Gupi de Zavalia.
Traditional lion dancers, Peking Opera and K-Pop dancers will entertain people of all ages, and a live event component sponsored by SBS will be held in Woolley St.
“SBS is committed to celebrating Australia’s multicultural events, encouraging all Australians to embrace our rich diversity. Lunar New Year is one of the biggest events of the year, celebrated by many cultures around the world, and we are thrilled to once again be out in the community joining in the festivities and marking this important occasion,” said SBS Managing Director James Taylor.
Highlights of this diverse program include musical performances by the ANU Chinese Classical Music Ensemble, Kim Yang, Ding Guili and Lucy Sugerman; dance demonstrations and workshops by Project Beats and Red Cedar Traditional Chinese Dance as well as the Canberra Dragon Dancers, Fire Dragon Australia and Subsdance presenting the Zodiac Story of the water tiger.
There will be plenty of open-air seating and access to restaurants in the neighbourhood. Photo: Gupi de Zavalia.
This is a COVID-safe event, set outdoors with plenty of open-air seating and access to all the restaurants in the neighbourhood. The details of the program can be found on the City Renewal Authority’s website.
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