Lunar New Year celebrations to mark the Year of the Rabbit are taking place across the country this weekend, with many venues laying on special celebrations.
The Fairfield Hotel and the Green Peppercorn restaurant in Fairfield in Sydney’s West will be holding its 11th year of Lunar New Year celebrations and Fairfield Hotel General Manager and Licencee, Sarah Hanania told The Shout it has become a popular event in the local community.
“This is now the 11th year we have celebrated Lunar New Year at the Fairfield Hotel and our customers love the celebrations we put on,” Hanania said.
“We have lion dancers and martial arts displays over two nights every year as well as firecrackers, lucky red envelopes, fortune cookies and incredible decorations in the hotel.
“The lion dancers are cheeky and mischievous and get up close with our customers. They always bring a smile to our customer’s faces especially the kids. different. We also have more people come into the bar for a drink to see our lion dancers bring luck and prosperity to all our customers.”
She added: “There is a huge Chinese and Vietnamese population many of which frequent the Fairfield Hotel. We also attract a lot of Thai and Laotian families who love coming to the Green Peppercorn restaurant so it’s important to celebrate Lunar New Year as it’s so important to their culture.
“In speaking to our customers over the years and learning about their culture we always put on a colourful yet respectful celebration.
“It starts with decorating the hotel in the lead up to Lunar New Year and this year we have lots of rabbits to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit. We have a huge 2.5m Rabbit of Good Fortune at the entrance of the Hotel as well as money trees decorated with lucky red envelopes, cherry blossoms and a full Lunar New Year display.”
In Melbourne the QV is starting six nights of celebrations tonight, unveiling an interactive installation of eight 4.5 metre tall Dancing Bunnies in QV Square, energetic lion dancers meandering from the square to Old Beijing on Artemis Lane.
“With so many of our restaurants, venues and stores celebrating Lunar New Year and the playful Dancing Bunnies installation that has been dreamt up, we can’t wait to welcome visitors to experience the Year of the Rabbit in the heart of the city at QV Melbourne,” said QV Melbourne City Retail Centre Manager Arabella Richards.
The Bob Hawke Beer & Leisure Centre in Marrickville is hosting a Lunar New Year banquet on Monday, serving up a variety Chinese meals with Peddler’s Chinese Gin cocktails, traditional dragon dance and a red envelope gift for those in attendance.
Just down the road Philter Brewing is joining forces with Hello Auntie to bring a slice of Vietnam to Marrickville.
Chef Cuong will be on the grill with a very special guest – his mum, Linda. The pair started Hello Auntie Marrickville back in 2015 and Linda still continues to play a big part in Cuong’s culinary inspiration. This dynamic duo will be dishing out a variety of authentic Vietnamese street food dishes.
All of Philter’s regular fan favourites and seasonal limited brews will be on offer throughout the whole venue; and there will be fun in the sun in the Marrickville Springs rooftop bar with cocktails and fresh Raspberry Pash Beer Slushies.
Lotus Dining Group is gearing up to celebrate The Year of the Rabbit with a selection of exclusive Lunar New Year dishes and traditional lion dance performances from 22 January until 5 February.
All seven of Lotus Dining’s venues will be offering a special rabbit-shaped dumpling – created specially in honour of The Year of the Rabbit. Incorporating a decadent filling of mud crab, prawn and ginger, these playful creations are available exclusively during the two-week celebrations.
One of Asia’s best bars, 28 HongKong Street is taking over popular cocktail bar Grain, at the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.
Naz Habib and Chris Peart of 28 HongKong Street will join Adam Lau’s team for two nights only, January 21 and 22, bringing Chinese flavours to Sydney.
To complement the craft cocktails featuring Peddler’s Gin, guest bartenders and traditional Chinese cuisine, the bar will kick off the festivities with a Lion Dance, provide Mahjong sets, cocktail roulette, and a custom fortune cookie giveaway including the chance to win an overnight stay at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.