Young will be transformed in a vibrant ray of colour and light at the seventh annual Lambing Flat Chinese Festival to be held on Saturday 21st March in Anderson Park, Young.
This year the festival offers some spectacular sunset and after dark events, and Multicultural food stalls.
The Sunset Lantern Parade led by the Prosperous Mountain Lion Dancers which will illuminate and enlivenAnderson park from 7.30pm with the Lion Dances presenting the final of three performances at the culmination of the parade.
In the lead up to the festival lantern decorating workshops are being conducted across the region, with school students and members of the community invited to bring along their lantern and take part in the Sunset Lantern Parade.
While there will be festival activities throughout the day, the event will officially launch at 4pm with many activities leading up to sunset and dark to follow.
This year’s festival precinct is in Anderson Park (Lovell Street) where the Young Visitor Information Cerntre will house a traditional Chinese Dress exhibition throughout the day.
Young Town Hall in Boorowa Street will house the popular Young Society of Artist Inc Lambing Flat Sculpture, Wood and Big Art Exhibition. Across the street the historic Millard Centre building owners will host the artisan and boutique markets from 10am – 1pm.
There will be a Gold Commissioner Tent and gold nugget hunt as well as a canon firing demonstration and Chinese musicians will take centre stage through out the night.
The popular lion dancing performances are always in big demand and this year are scheduled during the evening from 4pm to 8pm.
Now in its seventh year the festival is an important multicultural event for Young and the Canberra region and is traditionally held close to Harmony Day.
An initiative of Hilltops Council, the festival transforms the town’s goldfield past into a multicultural festival showcasing Chinese culture and food.
Apart from a full day of colourful entertainment there was also opportunity for people to visit the Chinese Tribute Garden and see the relic of the era, The Roll Up Banner now housed at the Lambing Flat Folk Museum. They can also discover important historic sites on the town’s Heritage Walk.
The festival program will be available on this website and from the Young Visitor Information Centre located off Lovell Street mid-March.
