Celebrating the Year of the Monkey in Yarra
For many people moving to Melbourne, the New Year has come and gone, with 2016 well underway. The time of fireworks and being merry has given way to hitting the ground running at work and burning off those end-of-year calories at the gym.
However, celebrations come twice for those who pay attention to the Chinese calendar. With the Lunar New Year on February 8, the City of Yarra will be holding its annual Victoria Street Lunar Festival on January 24. The event will play host to a vast range of Asian cultures and feature live performances, firecrackers and, of course, scrumptious food.
Check out how the City of Yarra celebrates the Year of the Monkey.
From Taekwondo to Chinese food
Whether you are a seasoned attendee of these traditional festivities or simply live in Fitzroy real estate and are looking for a good time, there is something on offer for everyone.
No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a dragon dance, which will make its way from Church Street to Shelley Street in true serpentine fashion.
For some, the art of Asian-style cooking has always been a bit of a mystery, with its rich flavours not always easy to produce. Thankfully, there are several live demonstrations to watch on the Shelley Street Food Stage. For instance, an exhibition from Chef Ha Nguyen of OTAO Kitchen will be showing the audience how to tackle the sour and spicy dishes of Thailand. If Vietnamese cuisine is more to your liking, Kha Nguyen, a contestant on MasterChef in 2015, will also be doing a cooking demonstration.
On the main stage, there will be a diverse range of performances, including Korean dances, martial arts exhibitions, Vietnamese opera, fashion shows and even a stand-up act by Comedian Diana Nguyen. Of course, no Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a dragon dance, which will make its way from Church Street to Shelley Street in true serpentine fashion.
Also, keeping an eye on the Chinese Lunar New Year presents an interesting opportunity. According to Finder.com.au, 58 per cent of Australians did not keep their 2015 New Year’s resolutions. If you’ve already broken yours (don’t worry, there’s no judgement from us!), this might be your second chance to start again. Some might think it’s cheating, but we think it’s just another great perk of celebrating the Chinese New Year.
If you’re figuring out where to live in Melbourne, give Nelson Alexander a ring. We have offices all around the city and can find something just right for you.
