The Sunshine Lunar New Year Festival is on AGAIN this year and it’s going to be AMAZING.

It will be held on Sunday Jan 26 from 12pm - 10pm and there is so much FREE fun for the family. There is live entertainment, children’s rides, street performers, music, dancing, street food, face-painting, magical Lion and Dragon dancing, red-pockets and a fabulous array of special effects and multiple firecracker long strings.

Hampshire Road, between Devonshire and Hertford Roads will be closed to traffic and will come alive with multicultural entertainment for children and all family members. A large performance stage with seating will burst with exciting musical acts, live multicultural bands and dance groups entertaining the community and showcasing their cultural heritage. The fabulous and funny Diana Nguyen will feature on the stage giving away red-pockets with $ from the stage Blossom Trees (sponsored by ANZ and O'Brien Real Estate) across the day’s event, plus MC'ing the Fastest Pho (Pho Hien Restaurant) eating challenge and then Fastest Burger (DaLat Hill Café & Steakhouse) eating challenge giving away $500 prizes.

Starting on stage with funky dance performances by WestEnd Performing Arts and then later for kids on Australia Day - The Animals of the Magical Mountains, a singing, dancing and adventure with Wozza and his eight Australian animal friends. There’s Stewie Koala, Locky Cocky, Spikey Echidna, Ellie Emu, Pippy The Mountain Pygmy Possum, Willy Wombat, Suzie Roo, Radical Rat and along with Breanna The Gum Tree, they help address important topics and issues such as bullying, making new friends, helping others when in need, building a healthy self esteem and encouraging respect and empathy for all.....with lots of fun.

Exciting headline acts include Emily Williams with her 5 piece band - discovered on Australian Idol 2005 and then a member of the Australian girl group Young Divas. Tanya George who rose to fame on The Voice in 2021 and sings Soul, R&B and pop with passion and flare astounding audiences with her 4 octave vocal range. HALO Choir, directed by powerhouse Liona Tatafu, is a diverse lineup of artists from different communities across Melbourne who perform collaboratively and simultaneously ensuring a captivating and awe-inspiring vocal experience. Multicultural performances by Australian Vietnamese Arts and Culture - Vietnamese traditional dancing and singing, Sounds of Polynesia - Islander music and dancing and the Kario Family Band - African cultural music.

A fabulous array of street food stalls of many nations, super fun small and large children’s rides, face-painting, street-performers, lawn games and a Cultural Kid’s Zone of kids craft sponsored by DK Estate Agency, will take over the Civic Green community area in front of all the restaurants. Sunshine’s favourite local sporting groups will also attend and present fun kid’s activities.

A vibrant Lion and Dragon dance complete with extra special effects and a huge display of long string firecrackers will take place 6.30pm at the stage.

The Lunar New Year Festival, or Tét Festival is a special day to celebrate the lunar calendar with family and friends, and such an enjoyable way to bring the wonderful and diverse community together. Time to welcome the year of the SNAKE!!

Location: Hampshire Road, between Devonshire and Hertford Roads

Date and time: Sunday Jan 26 from 12pm - 10pm

for more info click here