Melbourne is home to the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western World and the oldest Chinatown in the Southern Hemisphere. Chinese or Lunar New Year has a long tradition in Melbourne.
This year the Lunar New Year is Saturday 10 February 2024 for the Year of the Dragon.
Even if you’re not of Asian descent it’s a great time in Melbourne for festivities and yummy food with your family! Here’s a list of Chinese New Year events in Melbourne suitable for kids.
MELBOURNE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 EVENTS – CBD/docklands
- Jenny Zhe Chang: Sharing light and love through blessings (Wed 24 Jan – Sun 18 Feb) – ‘Sharing Light and Love through Blessings’ is a site-specific installation created exclusively for the Library at The Dock in the City of Melbourne.
- Lunar New Year at Crown Melbourne (Sat 9 Feb – Sat 24 Feb) – Choose your happy and let us take care of the details, from divine banquets and abundant buffets, to high teas shared with your favourites.
- Lunar New Year at SEA LIFE Melbourne (Sat 10 Feb – Sun 18 Feb) – SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium is celebrating Lunar New Year, welcoming the Year of the Dragon with a little help from some resident dragons!
- QV Melbourne celebrates Lunar New Year (Mon 8 Feb – Sun 21 Feb) – Celebrate Lunar New Year at QV Melbourne with a towering Year of the Dragon installation.
- LUNAR NEW YEAR at NGV (Sat 10 Feb – Sun 11 Feb) – Celebrate the Year of the Dragon at the NGV – with art, performances and free activities for all ages.
- Year of the Dragon at Oriental Teahouse (Sat 10 Feb) – Oriental Teahouse is gearing up to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, and you’re invited to join the festivities. Book your spot for a night of good food, good company, and good fortune.
- Lunar New Year 2024 Immigration Museum (Sat 10 Feb) – Celebrate Lunar New Year with the whole family at the Immigration Museum! Enjoy free performances of traditional Chinese music and dance, make games and crafts from Korea and Vietnam, and learn the ancient art of paper cutting.
- Lunar New Year – Dragon Parade, Chinese Museum & Street Festival Day (Sun 11 Feb) – Celebrate the biggest day in Melbourne’s Chinese Lunar New Year program. Stroll the annual Chinatown street festival, watch the Millenium Dragon Parade and visit the Chinese Museum with discounted entry.
- Chinese Lunar New Year Festival Chinatown (Sun 11 Feb) – Celebrate Chinese Lunar New Year with joy and tradition! Join in the vibrant festivities, share feasts, and exchange hopes for prosperity. Embrace the cultural tapestry.
- Chinese New Year Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Sat 17 Feb) – Join in for one of 2024’s cultural highlights in a program that blends Chinese and Western masterworks to celebrate cross-cultural connections through music.
- Dragon Boat Festival (Sun 25 Feb) – This Lunar New Year, join in the Dragon Boat Racing Festival on Harbour Esplanade and watch 200-metre dragon boat racing.
MELBOURNE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 EVENTS – NORTH
- Victoria Street Lunar Festival 2024 (Sun 4 Feb) – The Vietnamese heart of Richmond comes to life in true hawker food style, focusing on the outdoor dining experience.
- Lunar New Year Craft at Northcote (Wed 7 Feb) – We’re taking inspiration from the Year of the Dragon with fun craft activities. All materials supplied. Kids of all ages welcome.
- Year of the Dragon at Melbourne Zoo (Sat 10 Feb) – The perfect gift for the Year of the Dragon. Receive an exclusive merch pack plus all the benefits of a regular Child Membership, all while supporting the Critically Endangered Victorian Grassland Earless Dragon.
- Lunar New Year Family Day Melbourne Museum (Sat 10 Feb) – Melbourne Museum is celebrating the year of the Dragon with dragon dances, creative activities and a talk on the many unique dragons found in Australia.
- On The Road Again, Darebin Arts (Feb – Jun) – This work combines story, memory, music, both from China and from western musical cultures.
MELBOURNE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 EVENTS – south /south-east / bayside.
- LEGO Dragon Build Legoland Melbourne (Sat 10 Feb – Sun 11 Feb) – Build this iconic Dragon and take it home with you!
- Lunar New Year Dragon & Lion Dancers (Sat 10 Feb) – Celebrate Lunar New Year with traditional Dragon and Lion Dancers as they dance around the Market, bringing in the Year of the Dragon.
- LEGO 4-in-1 Build Legoland Melbourne (Mon 12 Feb -Sun 18 Feb) – Visit the Creative workshop to build this brick-tastic 4-in-1 set!
- Glen Waverley Chinese Lantern Festival (Sun 18 Feb) – International food stalls, cultural performances and activities.
MELBOURNE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 EVENTS – EAST
- All Day Art Day – Celebrating the Year of the Dragon (Tues 16 Jan) – Children will sculpt a vibrant clay dragon, Get crafty making a dancing dragon puppet and Chinese good luck ornaments and create a floral still-life collage.
- ABAW Whitehorse Lunar New Year Festival Box Hill (Sat 17 Feb) – Cultural performances, games, amusement rides, food and more.
- Prepare & Share: Yusheng & Dumplings | Chinese New Year Celebration (Sat 24 Feb) – Learn to create these special dishes with an expert cook guiding you through the recipes.
MELBOURNE LUNAR NEW YEAR 2024 EVENTS – WEST
- East Meets West Lunar New Year Festival 2024 (Sun 14 Jan) – Celebrate the coming Year of the Dragon at Footscray Asian Business Association’s annual Lunar New Year Celebration.
- St Albans Lunar Festival (Sun 21 Jan) – Soak up the atmosphere, the food, the culture, entertainment, finish off with a bang – its signature fireworks display!
- Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival (Sun 28 Jan) – A huge day of free family fun, live entertainment, children’s rides, street performers, music, dancing, street food, face-painting, magical Lion and Dragon dancing, red-pockets and firecrackers ending with spectacular fireworks.
- Quang Minh Tet Festival (Fri 9 Feb & Sat 10 Feb) – Explore and experience the beauty and richness of Lunar and Buddhist traditional celebrations, and includes performances, firecrackers, fireworks, chanting and delicious vegetarian food.
- Lunar New Year in Hobsons Bay (Sat 17 Feb) – Experience enchanting performances by Guzheng instrumentalist QiQi, Madison Lu’s Chinese fan dance, and meet Argo the baby water dragon. Enjoy entertainment and food trucks at Homestead Run Reserve.
- Wyndham Multicultural Lunar Festival (Sun 18 Feb) – There is something for the whole family – around 85 performances featuring artists from our rich diverse community including the ever-popular Lion and Dragon dances.
This post contains affiliate links. If you book using the links there is no extra cost to you and I earn a small commission that helps me to provide free, valuable and useful information for you! Thanks Joyce
