In an historic first, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Town Hall, Circular Quay Railway Station & the Capitol Theatre will be illuminated red to mark the 2016 Chinese New Year & welcome in the Year Of The Monkey.
The City Of Sydney is pleased to announce Westpac as principal partner of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival for the next 2 years & together they are painting the town red.
The world-famous iconic structures including the sails of the Sydney Opera House will glow the lucky red colour for 3 nights from the Festival Launch on Saturday the 6th of February through to Chinese New Year’s Eve on Sunday the 7th of February & Chinese New Year’s Day on Monday the 8th of February.
“Bathing the Sydney Opera House & the Harbour Bridge in red light welcomes good fortune for the Year Of The Monkey & is the perfect way to launch one of the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of China,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“This unique red gateway symbolises Sydney’s role as Australia’s international gateway, with world class tourism, infrastructure, icons & amenities.
“We’re delighted to welcome Westpac as the largest corporate partner of the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival & I invite everyone to visit the city, see these wonderful buildings light up for the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival and enjoy the many events & performances including the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub.”
To broaden the red make-over from the harbourside, Sydney Town Hall along with the Capitol Theatre will be illuminated for the entire Festival & visitors to the city will be invited to step into another world beneath a swaying ceiling of glowing lanterns in Martin Place where you can meet up with friends, grab a drink and bite to eat at the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub.
In Chinese culture, red symbolises good fortune & joy. It is believed to be an auspicious colour for warding off evil & also represents vitality and celebration.
The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival attracts more than 600,000 local & international visitors to Sydney, making it one of the most popular events in Sydney’s calendar & a boost to the local economy.
The City’s Sydney Chinese New Year Festival 2016 curator, Claudia Chan Shaw said lighting the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House is symbolic of creating a new red gateway to the city, welcoming the new Festival format & its expansion across the city.
“Lighting these iconic buildings sets the scene for a uniquely Sydney-style Chinese New Year on a global scale,” Claudia said.
“Following the enormous success of the 2015 Lanterns Of The Terracotta Warriors exhibition at Dawes Point, the new red gateway lighting along with the new Lunar Lanterns across the city & the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub will ensure the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is bigger and better than ever.”
“We’re delighted to celebrate these important ties by partnering with the City Of Sydney for the Sydney Chinese New Year Festival & to wish you success, prosperity and good luck in the Year Of The Monkey. Kung Hei Fat Choy!” said Westpac Group CEO, Brian Hartzer.
The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival will run from the 6th–21st of February. The Festival will include favourite events like the Dragon Boat Races, Lunar Feasts & more than 80 associated events.
The red light projections times & dates:
- Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House & Circular Quay Railway Station – Saturday the 6th to Monday the 8th of February, from 8pm until Midnight.
- Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub, Martin Place – Saturday the 6th to Sunday the 14th of February, from 8pm until Midnight.
- Capitol Theatre, courtesy of The Sound of Music & Sydney Town Hall – Saturday the 6th to Sunday the 21st of February, from 8pm until Midnight.
One of the highlights of this year’s Festival will be Lunar Lanterns running from the 6th–14th February. For more information, visit https://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/major-events/chinese-new-year-festival.
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Media Release: City Of Sydney
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