The City Of Sydney & Westpac are Painting The Town Red – lighting some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks bright red to mark the beginning of the City’s Chinese New Year Festival.
For 3 nights, 27-29 January, buildings across the city – including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House & Sydney Town Hall – will be lit up in the colour of happiness, good fortune & joy to ward off evil spirits in preparation for the Year Of The Rooster.
Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, said the illuminations were the perfect way to launch one of the world’s largest celebrations of the Lunar New Year.
“The Sydney Chinese New Year Festival is the largest and most exciting Lunar New Year celebration outside of Asia & lighting our iconic buildings lucky red will provide the perfect backdrop” the Lord Mayor said.
“Sydney will come alive from Friday the 27th of January welcoming the Year Of The Rooster with over 80 events including art, food, performance, workshops, dragon boat racing & much more”
The illuminations are supported by Sydney Chinese New Year Festival Principal Partner, Westpac, which is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2017.
“The City is pleased to be partnering with Westpac again for this year’s Festival & we congratulate them on their 200th anniversary. We encourage Sydneysiders & visitors alike to celebrate with us at the many special events, performances & exhibitions on show around the city” the Lord Mayor said.
In addition to the illuminations, Westpac will host a first of its kind Wall Of Fortune at Circular Quay that displays up to 600 Lunar New Year messages every minute on a giant screen measuring 2 metres tall & almost 8 metres wide.
Passers-by can capture their own Lunar New Year fortune by taking a photo of the screen & are encouraged to share their message on social media using #westpaclunar.
At Martin Place, the Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub will feature a 50-metre canopy of red lanterns, nightly disc jockeys and entertainment & food and drink offerings by Messina, Bao Stop & Taylor’s Pop-Up Bar. Visitors can learn to play one of the most popular Chinese games at The Star’s Mahjong Garden, while Messina will be giving away 200 free ice-creams a night for Westpac customers from 5pm.
On Friday the 3rd of February, the Hub will host a party to mark the 21st anniversary of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival with lion dances, community performances & live music. Visitors will be encouraged to join an enormous mass-karaoke sing-along with Massaoke.
Bernadette Inglis, Westpac’s Group General Manger For Retail & Premium Banks, said Westpac is excited to partner with the City Of Sydney for the 2nd year in a row to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
“Westpac is delighted to support the Lunar New Year celebrations & to wish the Chinese community success, prosperity and good luck in the Year Of The Rooster. We are looking forward to lighting up some of Sydney’s landmarks in red & getting involved in many of the wonderful events taking place around the city” said Miss Inglis.
Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival runs from the 27th of January to the 12th of February & features more than 80 events including the City’s Lunar Lanterns trail along the Sydney Harbour foreshore, Dragon Boat Races at Darling Harbour & Lunar Eats at restaurants across the city.
Westpac Activations
Painting The Town Red – at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Town Hall, State Library of New South Wales, Circular Quay Railway Station, Australian National Maritime Museum, David Jones Elizabeth Street Store & the Capitol Theatre with the support of Aladdin – The Musical. From the 27th to the 29th of January from 8pm until late.
Westpac Wall Of Fortune – at the northern end of East Circular Quay. From the 27th of January to the 12th of February, 10am to 10pm.
Westpac Lunar Lantern Hub – Martin Place between Pitt & Castlereagh Streets. All day, every day until the 12th of February.
The lighting of the Sydney Opera House sails is part of Painting The Town Red & is produced by the City Of Sydney in collaboration with Westpac & Sydney’s Chinese community through the Australian Council For The Promotion Of The Peaceful Reunification Of China.
For more information, visit sydneychinesenewyear.com or #CNYSYD.
Media Release: City Of Sydney
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