Victoria Street came to life on Saturday with hundreds of red paper lanterns strung up for the Bunbury Chinese New Year Festival celebrating the Year of the Pig with colour, music, dance and culture.
It is the first time the festival was held along the cafe strip and organiser Amanda Yip said it was exciting to see the event grow.
“It’s nice to share it with other family and for the community to join us for such a great occassion with good food, being with nice people and celebrating the colour, the noise, the lion dance and all the good fortune,” she said
“Chinese New Year is similiar to our Christmas so it’s about family reunion dinner, it’s the biggest mass migration of humans in the world, millions of people are on the move to get back to their homes and families.
“The traditions are around starting the year fresh and being with family and celebrating.”
Crowds enjoyed traditional dancing, singing, Kung Fu and Tai Chi performances along with children’s workshops in Kung Fu, Chinese acrobatics and ribbon dancing.
Ms Yip said she felt good about the festival moving to Victoria Street after the first two were held at the Stirling Streets Arts Centre.
“Hopefully it will stay there for a long time to come and expand down the street - there is lots of potential,” she said.
Ms Yip said it had been wonderful to have been embraced by Victoria Street businesses who provided Chinese themed offerings on the day.
