Market celebrates Year of the Horse

Little Malop Street will shimmer in red and gold this Saturday as the Geelong City Market celebrates Lunar New Year and welcomes the Year of the Horse.

From 9am to 2pm on February 21, the Geelong Chinese community will join stallholders and visitors for a vibrant cultural showcase in the heart of the CBD.

Organisers say the event is more than a market day.

It is a meeting of cultures. A celebration of community. A moment where history, heritage and hospitality share the same table.

For one special Saturday, the market will transform into a living celebration of Chinese artistry, storytelling and flavour. Three community-led stalls will offer hands-on experiences including Chinese lantern decorating, traditional paper cutting and calligraphy workshops. Families and children will be able to craft lanterns symbolising hope and good fortune for the year ahead.

Visitors can also browse Chinese silk scarves that showcase intricate craftsmanship and heritage, while a dedicated dumpling stall will serve handmade dumplings prepared fresh on site. Dumplings traditionally symbolise wealth, unity and prosperity, making them a meaningful and delicious way to mark the occasion.

Performance will be a highlight of the day. Specialists in Sichuan Opera Face-Changing, known as Bian Lian, will present the mesmerising art form where masks change in the blink of an eye, representing shifting emotions and dramatic tales passed down through centuries.

The unmistakable thunder of drums will signal the arrival of the Dragon and Lion Dancers, weaving through the market stalls to bring luck, prosperity and protection to traders and visitors alike. Their movement through the crowd is both spectacle and blessing, filling the street with colour, rhythm and energy.

Organisers say the Geelong City Market has always been built on a simple belief that markets should reflect the people who call a place home, celebrating the diversity and stories that shape the region.

Entry is free and open to all. Residents are encouraged to come early, wear red, bring the family and welcome the Year of the Horse in true Geelong style.

For more information, visit www.geelongcitymarket.com.au.