Chinese New Year 2016

By Ben Stephens.

If you find yourself in Sydney during early to mid February, you are in for a treat of cultural festivities. From February 6 – 13 the city will be awash with colour and activity to join in on the Chinese New Year celebrations. 2016 will be in honour of the Monkey, a witty, intelligent and magnetic little creature. From the citywide festivity of the lunar lanterns to a K-Pop party at Carriageworks, this Chinese New Year is teaming with events for everyone.

From the Opera House to the Capitol Theatre, buildings around the CBD will be showered in the colour red, as it scares away the bad fortune and promises a happy and prosperous new year… so let’s bring on that red! A pop up hawker style market will be found in Pyrmont, filled with more dumplings you can poke a chopstick at and lively entertainment. There’s also a bunch of restaurants sporting Chinese New Year specials. The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be playing host to a karaoke club at the top of the icon, where you will leave with a video copy of your awe-inspiring performance. Also your Mahjong tile throwing skill can be refined throughout the Chinese New Year period with numerous lunches and competitions taking place. There are so many more events planned for the new year period, you check them all out on the here.

This year will see the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation as the Charity Partner. To throw your support behind the amazing work that the team does at the foundation, be sure to pop by one of the Monkey (happy) Hour bars or even put some dollars behind the Dragon Boat Race on Darling Harbour, with all proceeds going to the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

QT Sydney would like to wish a happy and prosperous New Year to all and we hope the year of the Monkey treats you well.

The Chinese New Year Festival in Sydney runs from February 6 – 21 (Chinese New Year is February 8).