Sunshine Lunar New Year

Sunshine Lunar New Year

The Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival in Melbourne's outer west is a vibrant expression of the rich tapestry of cultures found in Melbourne. The Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival celebrates the traditions, food, and performances of various Asian cultures that honor the Lunar New Year, this festival is a radiant showcase of unity, heritage, and festivity.


The 2024 Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival is on Sun, 28 Jan 2024 between 12PM - 10PM.


Sunshine Lunar New Year
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Cultural performance.

Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival, true to its name, brings a burst of sunshine even to the cloudiest Melbourne day. The festival grounds are adorned with traditional red lanterns, colorful banners, and intricate decorations, creating an enchanting atmosphere. The huge festive crowds really come to party and the positive vive is all about you.


Sunshine Lunar New Year
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. It gets busy!

No Lunar New Year celebration is complete without its array of mouth-watering dishes. The festival hosts numerous stalls offering traditional foods, from steaming dim sums to crispy spring rolls. Each bite tells a story of tradition and culinary artistry.


Sunshine Lunar New Year eggs
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Eggs-citement!

To get into the swing of things and enjoy the local cultures its always good to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. I can't say they these snails were a treat but its all making the most of the Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival and getting into the spirit of things.


Sunshine Lunar New Year snails
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Escargot for the feint-hearted.

One of the festival's strengths is the diversity of cultures represented. While rooted in Asian traditions, it warmly welcomes people of all backgrounds, making it a truly multicultural event.


Sunshine Lunar New Year
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Culture time!

A standout feature of the festival is its lineup of performances. Traditional lion dances, dragon parades, and folk music performances captivate attendees, providing both entertainment and a deep dive into the rich traditions associated with the Lunar New Year.


Tarneit Market
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. A bit of drumming. A bit of fun.

While nearly of the lunar new year festivals in Melbourne have the food, cultural performances, dragon dances, etc what I enjoyed at the Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival was the pho (Vietnamese noodle) eating competition.


Sunshine Lunar New Year noodle eating competition
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Whose up for some competition?

It was nice having something that differentiated this festival from the many staggered throughout the Western Suburbs of Melbourne. The crowds certainly loved watching the competition.


Sunshine Lunar New Year crowd
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Attention everyone.



Location

The Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival takes place in the busy Sunshine shopping precinct along Hampshire Road, Sunshine.



Sunshine Lunar New Year food stall
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. Fry up.

When

The Sunshine Lunar New Year celebration is one of the many staggered across the western suburbs of Melbourne throughout the lunar New Year period. The 2024 festival is on Sunday 28 January 12PM-10PM.


This is a FREE community event.


In A Nutshell

The Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival is more than just a celebration of the lunar calendar. It's a reflection of Melbourne's multicultural fabric, a gathering of community spirit, and most importantly, a joyous start to the lunar year. Whether you're there for the cultural immersion, the food, or simply the festive atmosphere, it promises a memorable experience.


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Sunshine Lunar New Year food stalls
Image: West Melbourne and Beyond. More food stalls.

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