Fire breathing acrobats, lion dancers, a drumming parade and a firecracker show will ignite Bankstown, as thousands gather to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

Traditional food and flower stalls, the God and Goddess of Fortune and a watermelon eating competition will also feature at the annual Bankstown Lunar New Year Festival on Saturday 3 February.

All the celebrations will take place from 4-9pm at Griffith Park and Olympic Parade, Bankstown.

Canterbury-Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said Lunar New Year is an important event on the City’s calendar to recognise Bankstown’s large Vietnamese and Chinese communities.

“The festival has been running for the past 18 years and is quite popular with more than 10,000 people attending last year,” Mayor El-Hayek said.

“We’re lucky to have such a large Asian community here in Canterbury-Bankstown and it is fitting that we acknowledge the Year of the Dragon.”

This year, visitors can relax amongst a bonsai and dragon boat display in the brand-new Lunar New Year garden proudly sponsored by Lady Banks Rooftop, while the Lunar Fun Zone offers karaoke in a range of different languages.

There’ll be plenty of free activities for the little ones, including traditional crafts, face painting and roving entertainment.

Visitors can also snap a photo with the giant inflatable dragon supported by SBS.

“I encourage everyone to come along and experience our dynamic mix of languages, customs and traditions. There’ll be something for people of all ages to join in and enjoy,” Mayor El-Hayek said.

In an exciting first for Council, the brand-new Campsie Lantern Festival will close the Lunar New Year celebrations on Saturday 24 February.

The Lantern Festival will see Campsie’s Anzac Mall and Anzac Park filled with an exciting offer of Asian cuisines, cultural entertainment and free kids’ activities.

This event is proudly sponsored by Lady Bankstown Rooftop, SBS, Canterbury-Bankstown Torch, Dan Viet News, Connect FM and Chinese Herald.