Hurstville is preparing for its largest Lunar New Year celebration in history, with Forest Road set to be transformed into a festival precinct across two weekends to welcome the Year of the Snake.

The celebrations, organised by the Hurstville Chinese Business Association in partnership with Georges River Council, will feature traditional lion and dragon dances, cultural performances, food stalls, and family activities from January 24-26 and January 31-February 1.

Festival Program

Saturday January 24 - Official Opening

• 11am: Opening ceremony with Welcome to Country
• 11:30am: Lion and dragon awakening ceremony
• 12pm-6pm: Food and market stalls
• 1pm: Traditional Chinese music performance
• 3pm: Lion dance procession along Forest Road
• 5pm: Martial arts demonstration

Sunday January 25

• 10am-5pm: Children’s activities and workshops
• 11am: Dragon dance spectacular
• 2pm: Chinese opera performance
• 4pm: Tai Chi demonstration

Monday January 26 (Australia Day)

• 10am-4pm: Combined Australia Day and Lunar New Year celebrations
• 11am: Citizenship ceremony at Hurstville Library
• 12pm: Multicultural food festival
• 2pm: Community performances celebrating diversity

The second weekend (January 31 - February 1) repeats headline events for those who miss opening weekend, with some new performances and activities.

What’s New This Year

Several additions expand on previous years’ celebrations:

Extended Festival Zone The festival area now extends from Queens Road to Treacy Street, nearly doubling the space available for stalls and performances. Road closures will be in effect throughout festival hours.

Night Market Saturday evenings will feature an after-dark night market from 6pm-10pm, with lantern displays, late-night food stalls, and live entertainment. This responds to feedback requesting evening activities.

Cultural Exchange Pavilion A dedicated area for community groups to share their cultural traditions, reflecting Hurstville’s broader multicultural makeup. Groups from Vietnamese, Korean, Greek, and other communities will participate alongside Chinese cultural displays.

Year of the Snake Exhibition Hurstville Museum will host a special exhibition exploring the snake in Chinese culture and art, running throughout February.

Getting There

With Forest Road closed to traffic, organisers recommend:

• Train: Hurstville Station is a 2-minute walk from the festival
• Bus: Multiple routes service Hurstville interchange
• Cycling: Bike parking available at MacMahon Street
• Parking: Use council car parks on Woodville Street or Civic Avenue; street parking extremely limited

A free shuttle will run from Hurstville Westfield car park to the festival entry point every 15 minutes throughout the event.

Supporting Local Businesses

The festival coincides with traditionally strong trading for Hurstville’s Asian businesses. Restaurant bookings for the period are already filling fast, with several establishments offering special Lunar New Year banquet menus.

“Lunar New Year is our biggest time,” said David Leung, owner of Eight Treasures Restaurant on Forest Road. “Families come from across Sydney to celebrate in Hurstville. The festival brings even more people, which is wonderful for all our businesses.”

Local retailers will offer special promotions, with red pocket lucky draw entries available with purchases over $50 at participating stores.

Community Safety

Georges River Council has increased security and crowd management resources for the event. First aid stations will be located at each end of the festival zone, and lost children points will be staffed throughout.

“We want everyone to enjoy the celebrations safely,” said council’s events manager Michelle Park. “Please be patient with crowds, stay hydrated, and look out for each other.”

For the full program and updates, visit georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/lunarnewyear or follow Georges River Council on social media.