Celebrate Lunar New Year at NGV International with two full days of vibrant, family-friendly activities marking the start of the Year of the Snake. Taking place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February 2025, the festivities will feature pop-up lion dances, captivating Peking opera performances, and an exclusive menu created by renowned chef and restaurateur Victor Liong.
Visitors of all ages can enjoy free events, including artist workshops, performances, games of mahjong in the NGV Garden, and guided tours of the NGV Collection.
In partnership with HSBC, Brunei-born, Melbourne-based chef Victor Liong has curated a special menu that highlights his signature creativity. The menu includes Kashgari cumin lamb skewers, dumplings, five-spiced duck sausage rolls, jasmine tea cream choux puffs, and more.
Liong, the culinary mastermind behind Melbourne’s acclaimed Lee Ho Fook, has earned accolades such as two Chef’s Hats and a spot on Gourmet Traveller’s list of Victoria’s 25 best restaurants.
As part of the celebrations, Liong will join food writer, comedian, and TV presenter Jennifer Wong for a discussion on Lunar New Year cuisine. They will explore how food symbolises prosperity, luck, and familial togetherness, blending traditional dishes with modern interpretations while sharing personal stories of cultural connection. Guests attending this session will also receive complimentary loose-leaf tea from Lee Ho Fook.
Children can engage in creative fun with artist Yiwon Park, who will lead a workshop on decorating traditional Korean bokjumeoni (fortune pouches) with symbols of good fortune. Visitors can also enjoy free Häagen-Dazs ice cream in the NGV Garden from 3.30 pm each day and participate in a traditional game of mahjong.
The festival will include dynamic performances like lion dances by the Hong De Lion Dance Association and the 300-year-old Sichuan opera art of bian lian, where performers skilfully change face masks in seconds.
Visitors can also experience the enchanting spectacle of Peking opera, brought to life by Mei Lan Fang’s Chinese Beijing Opera Friendship Association & Chinese Beijing Opera Club of Melbourne, with stories of gods, warriors, and scholars performed in elaborate costumes and vibrant face paint.
The celebration extends to DJ sets by Rainbow Chan and Small Fry in the Great Hall, as well as tours of the NGV Collection in Mandarin and English, showcasing the hidden treasures and lucky symbols in the museum’s International Decorative Arts collection.
Tony Ellwood AM, Director of NGV, said, “Our annual Lunar New Year celebrations bring together the whole community for a weekend of cultural activities. Festivals like this help preserve and share the cultural heritage of our diverse and multicultural community.”
Lunar New Year at NGV is free and open to all on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 February 2025 at NGV International, St Kilda Road, Melbourne.
For more information, visit NGV.MELBOURNE.
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🐍 Celebrate #LunarNewYear at @NGVMelbourne with vibrant activities, lion dances, Peking opera, artist workshops, and delicious food by @liong_victor! 🍜 Join the festivities on 1–2 February 2025. 🎉 Which event are you most excited for? 💬 #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/KYvl2pvfWz
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) January 23, 2025
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