Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is a vibrant celebration. It’s a time of family gatherings, rich traditions, and festive activities. This festival is celebrated throughout Asia and in Australia among the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malaysian and Korean communities.
In 2025, the Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, January 29. It marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake. The sixth character in the Chinese zodiac is a symbol of renewal, wisdom, abundance and prosperity in Chinese culture.
Chinese New Year is the perfect time to immerse your family in vibrant traditions, delicious food, and meaningful cultural experiences. Whether you’re staying in or venturing out, celebrating this festival with your kids can be an unforgettable bonding experience. Ready to bring the magic of Lunar New Year to life? Here are 10 fun ideas to get started!
1. Attend a Lunar New Year Festival
Newcastle
Head to Hunter Wetlands Centre for a a special Chinese New Year event on 29 January. In the Chinese zodiac, the Snake is symbol of good luck, wisdom, elegance and transformation. Snakes are also an important reptile in Australia’s wetlands environments and are much loved members of the weekend Reptile Encounter shows.
To celebrate this very special lunar year, Hunter Wetlands Centre is holding a morning of Chinese Language activities.
- 10.00am – Guided Walking Tour in Mandarin (FREE with entry)
- 10.30am – Bird Feeding and Talk (FREE with entry)
- 11.00am – Reptile Encounter Show ($5pp with entry. Suitable for children 3+)
Their Chinese language volunteers are fluent in Mandarin & Cantonese and will be on hand at the centre to lead tours or assist Visitors.
Sydney
The Sydney Lunar Festival is one of the biggest Lunar New Year celebrations outside of Asia. The family-friendly event includes live entertainment, delicious food, lion dances, dragon boats and art and light installations will dazzle crowds during the 19-day festival starting Wednesday 29 January. There’s also the Cabramatta Lunar New Year event on Saturday 15 January and the City of Ryde Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday 8 February.
2. DIY Lantern Crafting
The streets of China light up with vibrant red lanterns during Chinese New Year. Recreate this tradition by making your own paper lanterns at home! All you need is red paper, scissors, glue, and some gold markers for decoration. Your kids can decorate their lanterns with drawings, stickers, or Chinese characters to personalize them. Hang them around your house for a festive feel!
3. Red Envelope Surprise Game
Red envelopes (hongbao) filled with money are a traditional gift during Chinese New Year. For kids, you can fill them with chocolate coins, small toys, or stickers instead. Hide the envelopes around the house and let your kids go on a treasure hunt to find them. You can even include notes with fun challenges or wishes for good luck in the envelopes.
4. Eat Dumplings
Dumplings are a symbol of wealth and prosperity because they resemble ancient Chinese gold ingots. Go out to eat dumplings. There’s plenty of dumpling spots around Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and the Hunter like Dumpling Kitchen in Jesmond, Panda Dumpling in Mount Hutton or Dumpling Story in Hamilton. Or if you prefer, you can make them at home. Involve your kids in the dumpling-making process! Set up a dumpling station with pre-made wrappers, fillings (like minced meat or veggies), and bowls of water. Let them fold their own dumplings—fun shapes and “creative” dumplings are totally acceptable! Bonus: dinner is sorted!
5. Learn about the Dragon Dance
What’s Chinese New Year without a dragon dance? Learn about the traditional dragon dance which is often performed during this festival.
6. Learn a Chinese Greeting
Teach your kids to say “Happy New Year” in Mandarin: “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (新年快乐) or in Cantonese: “Gong Hei Fat Choy” (恭喜发财). You can even challenge them to write the words on a card or banner for decoration. It’s a fun way to introduce language learning into the celebration.
7. Watch a Chinese New Year Movie
Set up a cozy family movie night with a Lunar New Year theme. Options like Wish Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Mulan, Everything Everywhere All At Once or documentaries about Lunar New Year traditions can help your kids understand the cultural significance of the holiday while keeping them entertained. Don’t forget the popcorn (or maybe some fortune cookies)!
8. Create a Zodiac-Themed Craft
Chinese New Year revolves around the Chinese zodiac. Find out which animal corresponds to the current year and create a craft around it. For example, if it’s the Year of the Dragon, make dragon masks; if it’s the Year of the Rabbit, craft some cute bunny ears. You can also teach your kids about their own zodiac signs and what they represent.
9. Build a Candy Box
A Chinese New Year candy box, or Tray of Togetherness, is filled with treats like candied fruits, nuts, and chocolates. Get a box with dividers (or make one out of an egg carton) and let the kids fill it with their favorite snacks. Use it as a centerpiece and enjoy it together while sharing stories about the traditions behind it.
10. Decorate the House in Red and Gold
In Chinese culture, red symbolizes luck and gold represents prosperity. Get your kids involved in decorating the house with red and gold streamers, paper cutouts, and festive banners. You can even make a family project out of creating a big “Fu” (福) character to hang on the door for good fortune.
You might also like: