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The 2009 Chinese New Year Community Festival in Melbourne’s Chinatown will farewell the year of the rat and welcome the year of the ox this Sunday 1 February.
More than 80,000 people of all cultures and backgrounds are expected to attend the annual celebration with
festivities kicking off at 10.20am and continuing through the evening until 8pm.
What: Festival Opening Ceremony
When: from 10.20am Sunday, 1 February 2009
Where: Festival main stage, located near the corner of Russell and Lonsdale Streets
10.20 – 10.30am: Opening dance by the festival Lion
10.30 – 11.00am: Official speeches (spokespersons below)
11.10am: Lord Mayor Robert Doyle declares the festival open
Official speeches:
- Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
- Premier John Brumby
- Minister for Finance and Deregulation, the Hon Lindsay Tanner
- State Opposition leader Ted Baillieu
- PRC Consul General Mr Wei Lian SHEN
- Commonwealth Bank Regional General Manager Mr Richard Porter
- FCA President Mr Jerry Zhu
What: Awakening of the Big Dragon and street parade The famous Dai Loong (“Big Dragon”) will be awakened to parade through the streets from midday, visiting restaurants and performing cultural dances. Seeing the Dragon, which requires nearly 100 people to carry it during it’s performance, will bring great luck and fortune for the year ahead.
When: 12 noon – Sunday, 1 February 2009
Where: Dragon awakened at: Entrance to the Chinese Museum, Cohen Place, Chinatown. (Access Cohen place off Little Bourke St, between Exhibition and Russell streets) The Dragon will then proceed out of Cohen Place, turn right into Little Bourke Street and parade throughout the festival precinct.
For more information about Chinese New Year festivities in the city: www.thatsmelbourne.com.au