Colour, sound and street food: Your guide to Canberra’s Lunar New Year celebrations in Dickson
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From lion dances and K-pop to hands-on kids’ activities and more than 20 food stalls, here’s everything you need to know about Canberra’s all-day Lunar New Year street party.
Dickson’s Woolley Street is set to burst into colour, sound and flavour on Saturday 21 February, as Canberra comes together to welcome the Lunar New Year with a lively, all-day street party celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse.
Traditionally associated with energy, movement and bold expression, it’s a fitting match for a festival that runs for 12 hours straight and spills across the length of one of Canberra’s most beloved dining strips.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick wander or settling in for the day, consider this an open invitation to experience the sights, sounds and flavours of Lunar New Year right in the heart of Canberra.
What’s happening on Woolley Street
The celebrations stretch along the full length of Woolley Street, where two performance stages anchor the program and market stalls run between them.
From morning through to night, the street will hum with a rolling schedule of music, dance and performance, beginning with traditional lion dance and drumming before unfolding into a mix of classical, contemporary and modern styles.
Across the day, audiences can expect cultural performances from Chinese, Vietnamese and Indonesian community groups, alongside Kung Fu demonstrations, dance crew performances and live musical sets from Isabella Wong, Jade Kenji, Dj Maggie Tra and DJ Jouleus.
New to this year’s celebrations is Mini Mongok, a market-style area inspired by traditional Lunar New Year street markets. Brimming with lanterns, toys and pop-culture finds, you’ll find everything from comics and collectibles to traditional Taiwanese games.
Come hungry
Food plays a starring role in the Lunar New Year celebrations, with more than 20 food and beverage stalls lining Woolley Street.
Expect charcoal-grilled skewers, noodles and bao, Korean pancakes cooked fresh to order, roti, momos, crepes, doughnuts and vegan street food, alongside sweet treats and desserts that are as colourful as the festival itself.
Drinks range from bubble tea and Asian-inspired desserts to glow-in-the-dark fairy floss and a limited-edition Lunar Lager, poured alongside a broader selection of beer, wine and spirits.
Family-friendly fun
Have a KPop Demon Hunters fan (or three) in your life? You won’t want to miss this. K-Pop Heroes will give younger audiences their fix of colour and pop energy, while pyrotechnics have been added to main-stage performances to hype the atmosphere as the sun goes down.
On top of music, dancing and fabulous food, families can get involved with hands-on activities that run throughout the day, including paper zodiac crafts, calligraphy, balloon workshops and face painting.
It really is a celebration that everyone can enjoy. See you on Woolley Street?
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Canberra’s Lunar New Year celebrations
When: Saturday 21 February, 10 am–10 pm
Where: Woolley Street, Dickson
Web: lunarnewyearcanberra.com
