By Casey Neill
The Springvale Lunar New Year Festival will welcome the Year of the Dog and shine a light on all that Springvale has to offer.
Springvale Asian Business Association (SABA) president Daniel Cheng said attendance had topped 90,000 in the past, and he was confident of a good turnout for the 26th annual event on Sunday 11 February.
“Seeing all those happy faces, I love it,” he said.
“This year for the first time we will have the second stage.”
That addition will help to showcase more multi-cultural entertainment than ever before, from Mexican, Russian, Indian, Sri Lankan, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Cambodian, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese performers.
There’ll be bands, lion dances, games and rides for young and old, and two main competitions – a coffee and cup take on the egg and spoon race and a karaoke singalong.
SABA member Vincent Golf said the festival was the second largest Asian festival in Victoria, only behind the CBD.
“People come from all over Victoria,” he said.
Mr Golf said the event was extremely family-oriented.
“I do enjoy that my kids have such a wonderful time here on the day,” he said.
There’ll also be a record-breaking 70-plus stalls along Buckingham Avenue.
“Make sure you come hungry on the day,” Mr Golf said.
“SABA recognises with enormous amounts of gratitude our traders and sponsors.
“That’s exactly what we’re here for. We’re here for all the business owners and the traders.
“There are about 640 businesses operating in Springvale.”
Festivities will run from 10am to 10pm. Fireworks will erupt into the skies from the Buckingham and Queens avenue intersection at 9pm.
Mr Golf said the best vantage point was from the ferris wheel at Windsor Avenue.
Email saba.danielcheng@gmail.com or saba.vincentgolf@gmail.com for more information.
