Sydney prepares for Chinese New Year celebrations

Outside of Asia it’s the biggest celebration of the Chinese New Year in the world.

But it takes a whole lot of work to put Sydney’s Chinese New Year celebrations together.

Sydney will welcome in the Chinese Year of the Rabbit with over a week’s worth of celebrations, including the spectacular Twilight parade, which will run from January 28 until February 13.

Festival director, Gill Minervini, herself born in the year of the rabbit, said the festival would feature more than 50 events reflecting the cultural individuality of Chinese-Australians as well as reflecting the unique role of the rabbit in both cultures.

“The rabbit features strongly in both western culture, think of Bugs Bunny, Roger Rabbit, Brer Rabbit – there are many examples,” she said.

“And the rabbit has its own identity and characteristics in Chinese culture as well. You are going to see that mixture reflected in the Twilight Parade.”

Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the 2011 festival would be the city’s “biggest and best yet”.

“[It will be] drawing together the best of traditional and contemporary Asia with the cultural diversity of our wonderful City in an extensive 17 day program,” she said.

The festival will officially kick off this Friday as Belmore Park hosts the Chinese New Year Markets, with a night of markets, performances, fireworks and entertainment planned.

The markets will run until Sunday and will feature a demonstration of the amazing Wudang martial arts, made popular by movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, by visiting martial artists from Hubei province in China.

Ms Minervini said a particular highlight for her was the Dragon Boat Races, taking place at Cockle Bay on Darling Harbour from Saturday February 12 until Sunday February 13.

“This is the largest Dragon Boat racing event in the Southern Hemisphere,” she said.

“There will be more than 3000 paddlers racing in front of thousands of people.”

But without a doubt the jewel in the crown of the festival is the Chinese New Year Twilight Parade, running for two hours from 7:45pm on Sunday, February 6.

More than 2500 local and international performers, including 250 artists from Hubei, Tujia Waving Hand Dancers, three giant floats, and magicians will parade from Sydney’s Town Hall to Darling Harbour.

The parade concludes at Darling Harbour where the participants and onlookers will welcome in the New Year with a fireworks show.