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Springvale Asian Business Association’s annual Lunar New Year Festival attracted huge crowds as well as raising funds for bushfire relief.
Celebrating the Year of the Rat, about 70,000 visitors enjoyed the choice of live entertainment and 85 food and other stalls.
The program of traditional lion dances, hip-hop, magic acts and bands was topped by fireworks at night.
Luckily, the event was spared the brunt of fierce hail storms that battered Southern and Eastern suburbs on the day.
The strong turnout has been built on the 28-year-history of the event in Springvale, SABA president Daniel Cheng said.
“We consider ourselves to be one of the biggest Lunar New Year festivals in Melbourne, with the longest history after Chinatown in Melbourne CBD.
There was also an emphasis on bushfire appeal awareness, SABA secretary-general Vincent Golf said.
On the day, SABA presented more than $90,000 to The Salvation Army for national bushfire relief.
The monies had been raised by 19 Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian groups.
The next Springvale Lunar New Year Festival is scheduled for Sunday 7 February 2021.
Details: Daniel Cheng, 0466 021 916 and Vincent Golf, 0404 036 123.
