The Year of the Horse Gallops into Geelong with a Colourful Lunar New Year Celebration

Geelong City Market honours vibrant local Chinese community for the Year of the Horse.

On Saturday, 21 February, the heart of Geelong will be draped in shades of red and gold as the Geelong City Market invites the community to join in a vibrant celebration of the Lunar New Year. From 9am to 2pm, Little Malop Street will transform into a festival of culture, where history, tradition, and artistry come together to mark the arrival of the Year of the Horse.

With good food and good fortune on the agenda, this is going to be a Geelong City Market event to attend.

Geelong City Market Lunar New Year Celebration

Where: Little Malop Street Central, Geelong CBD
When: Saturday 21 February, from 9am to 2pm

Keep up to date with the latest in food and drinks across regional Victoria here.

 

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Since setting up shop every Saturday in Little Malop Street Mall last year, Geelong City Market has become a favourite food and culture attraction in the heart of the Geelong CBD. With local producers, artisan stallholders, and entertainment, the market is a showcase of the best output of our region. For this special Lunar New Year celebration, the focus will be on our vibrant Chinese heritage and culture.

This event promises to be much more than a typical market day; it’s an opportunity to experience a rich cultural tapestry woven through workshops, performances, and, of course, exceptional food. Visitors will be able to engage directly with Chinese cultural traditions through hands-on activities, from crafting Chinese lanterns that symbolise hope and good fortune to learning the delicate art of traditional paper cutting, passed down through generations. Calligraphy workshops will offer a chance to understand the philosophy behind Chinese characters, while the stalls will showcase beautiful silk scarves, highlighting the artistry and craftsmanship of Chinese textiles.

For many, the highlight will undoubtedly be the food. A dedicated dumpling stall, serving up fresh handmade dumplings, will symbolise unity, prosperity, and wealth—bringing the community together over something delicious and meaningful.

But no celebration of the Lunar New Year would be complete without performance. The market will come alive with the drama and beauty of Sichuan Opera Face-Changing, an ancient art form in which performers transform their masks in a blink of an eye, representing shifting emotions and tales centuries old. The thunderous sound of drums will herald the arrival of the Dragon and Lion Dancers, whose graceful and energetic movements will bring blessings of luck and prosperity, not only to the stallholders but to every visitor.

From its inception, the Geelong City Market has always been about celebrating the community. This year, that ethos takes on even more significance, as the market honours the rich traditions of the Geelong Chinese community, while inviting the wider region to come together, participate, and share in this celebration of culture, connection, and joy. It’s a true embodiment of what the Geelong City Market stands for—Eat it, Drink it, Grow it, Create it—a living expression of how food, culture, and creativity can bring people closer.

The event will take place on Little Malop Street, right in the heart of Geelong’s CBD, and is free to attend, open to all ages. It’s an invitation to come early, wear something red, bring your family, and celebrate the Year of the Horse in a way that is distinctly Geelong.

 Find out more about Geelong City Market here.