Celebrate the Lunar New Year at Dai Gum San

THE Dai Gum San Precinct will once again transform into a sight of colour and spectacle on Saturday 1 February to celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year.

The Lunar New Year is one of the most important and widely celebrated holidays in many east and southeast Asian cultures and is reportedly responsible for the largest annual migration in the world, with as many as three billion trips taken during the period.

Each year the lunar calendar is associated with one of 12 zodiac animals, with 2025 set to be the year of the snake.

“It’s a great time for celebration and holidays and reuniting with friends and family, and of course, with Bendigo’s connection to our Chinese roots, we take advantage to celebrate ourselves,” Bendigo Chinese Association president Doug Lougoon said.

He said a highlight of the event will be the appearance of inflatable “helium dragon” Fei Loong, which will be tethered to the Association’s traditional dragon carriers and appear to fly through the air, plus counterpart Guang Loong.

“It will be the longest version (of Fei Loong) we’ve had so that should be a real sight to behold,” he said.

The popular BCA Lion Team will also perform at the free event, with Asian and subcontinental food to be available.

Lunar New Year Festival 2025 takes place on Saturday 1 February from 4 to 8pm in the Dai Gum San Precinct on the Eastern side of Rosalind Park.

Further information is available on the event’s Facebook page.