By GEORGIA WESTGARTH
DANIEL Cheng hopes to see lots of little monkeys running around at this year’s Lunar New Year festival in Springvale.
“It is the year of monkey – so I want to see monkey face paint on everyone,” said Mr Cheng, president of the Springvale Asian Business Assocation.
It will be the annual New Year extravaganza’s 24th year in Springvale and Mr Cheng said the festival was expected to bring in more than 70,000 people.
“People come for the food, flag raising ceremony, lion dancing and fire crackers,” he said.
“This year we will have the national anthem sung by the Melbourne Chinese children’s choir.”
The monkeying around theme of 2016 is meant to bring good luck to everybody.
And the day will also bring together other Asian cultures, including a dance routine by a New Zealand act.
“This year there will be four MCs, all speaking different languages including English, Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese,” Mr Cheng said.
On the day festival goers will be treated to a Japanese drumming performance and Cambodian songs, along with more than 70 stalls of food and merchandise.
Mr Cheng said he is excited to taste some of the new rice flavours that will be launched at the free New Year party and take in the lively atmosphere of the day.
Dandenong mayor Heang Tak is expected to grace the stage and Victoria Police officers will raise the Australian flag.
The official ceremonies will kick off at 12.30pm but stalls will be open from 10am on Sunday 7 February, in Buckingham Street, Springvale.
