While Dixon Street Plaza is always bustling with Sydneysiders seeking out spicy feasts and products that don’t frequent the shelves of Woolies, the lantern-lined thoroughfare glows even brighter for Lunar New Year.
This is an important date for many communities in Sydney, including our Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese residents, and the annual celebrations are invariably a colourful, joyful and delicious affair. In 2019, Lunar New Year falls on February 5, and in Chinatown they’ll usher in the Year of the Pig from February 1-10, for good measure.
There’ll be culturally significant activities in abundance. Be captivated by the drums and colours of lion dancers in the lane every Friday and Sunday, see traditional performances, demonstrations and participate in workshops at the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and take a snap of the canopy of Chinese lanterns suspended over the centre of Chinatown.
There’s a few unusual activities on the roster too, like an art and congee breakfast tour or the zodiac roulette, where you’ll receive a personalised horoscope for 2019 and be allotted a specialised dish that represents your destiny. Head to Chinatown to find out if you’re a spicy hot pot or a soothing broth.