Chinese & Korean New Year Festival in Northcote this weekend

Chinese & Korean New Year Festival in Northcote this weekend

The Northcote Town Centre celebrates the Chinese & Korean New Year (‘Year of the Dragon’) with a free family celebration on Friday, 27 January from 5:30pm – 9pm and Saturday, 28 January 2012 from 10:00am – 3:00pm.

This Chinese & Korean New Year Festival has become a much anticipated event in Northcote over the past twelve years, providing a taste of Asian culture and a wide range of Asian entertainment and activities. It is a free community event of colour, culture and cuisine, and features vibrant cultural performances, free children’s activities, and array of Chinese & Korean cuisine.

This year’s event is particularly special as it celebrates the “Year of the Dragon” - the feature year on the Chinese and Korean Lunar calendar. It will bring some special features to the Northcote event such as Dragon dances and a feature photography exhibition. It is also significant as Northcote celebrated the “Year of the Dragon” with its first Chinese & Korean New Year Festival back on 2000.

A large stage will be set-up near the centre’s town square for the festival with performances ranging from music and martial arts to song and dance, from a variety of cultures including Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Japanese. The photographic exhibition in the NorthART Arts Centre will shows images from festivals in Northcote over the past twelve years and is entitled ‘Dragon to Dragon’.

The Chinese & Korean New Year Festival also features authentic Asian food stalls, and special activities such as traditional Chinese fortune telling. Children will be well catered for at the event with an amusement area, and face painting. Norman King Square will feature a wide range of sports such as Tennis, Squash, Netball, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Badminton – all being co-ordinated by Harbour’s Sport ‘Active Community Sport’ Programme.

A Dragon Dance will be performed the EPACs Dragon & Lion Dance troupe. The Dragon Dance forms part of the official proceedings at 12noon which also include speeches, and the singing of a New Year song.

Air NZ is a major sponsor of this year’s festival and there are two return flights to either Beijing or Shanghai, China on Air NZ to be won. Everyone, over the age of 18, that makes a purchase in the Northcote centre is eligible to enter the draw for two return flights. The draw will be made at 2pm on Saturday, 28 January by Mayor Len Brown with the winner having to be present to claim the prize.

The colourful Chinese & Korean New Year Festival is presented free to the public with sponsorship coming from the Northcote Town Centre, Auckland Council, Creative Communities NZ and Air NZ.

www.northcote.co.nz

Friday Night Stage Programme
5:30pm: Taiji - NZ Taiji & Martial Arts Society
5:50pm: Chinese Music & Dance - Asian Pacific Cultural Connection
6:10pm: Korean TKD - Korean Society of Auckland
6:30pm: Hip Hop Dance - Trak 1
6:40pm: Hip Hop Dance - M.Eye.A
6:50pm: Taiwanese Dance - Macang Dance Company
7:00pm: Taiwanese Dance - Macang Dance Company
7:10pm: Chinese Dance - Blue Sky Dancing Group
7:20pm: Taiwanese Dance - Macang Dance Company
7:30pm: Hip Hop Dance - Trak 1 & M.Eye.A
7:40pm: Hip Hop Dance - New Beginning
7:50pm: Chinese Dance - Blue Sky Dancing Group
8:00pm: Korean Fan Dance - Korean Trad Music & Cultural Assn
8:05pm: Golden Dragon & Lion Dance - EPACS Dragon & Lion Dance Team
8:20pm: Japanese Drumming - Haere Mai Taiko
8:40pm: Taiji - Marlborough Park Tai Chi Community
9:00pm: Finish

Saturday Stage Programme
10am: Taiji - Miao’s Taiji Studio
10:15am: Chinese Dance - Auckland Dong Fang Dance Group
10:20am: Chinese Acrobat Show - Flaming Phoenix
10:40am: Chinese Dance - Auckland Dong Fang Dance Group
10:50am: SAMUT-SARI - Filipino Dance (Traditional & Modern Performers)
11:00am: Performances - North Shore Chinese Society
12noon: Official Speeches - Speeches / Dragon Dance / New Year Song
12:30pm: Chinese Singing - Cantonese Opera Society
12:35pm: Traditional Dance - Macang Dance Company
12:40pm: Traditional Dance - Macang Dance Company
12:45pm: Chinese Dance - Blue Sky Dancing Group
12:55pm: Traditional Dance - Macang Dance Company
1:00pm: Korean TKD - Korean Society of Auckland
1:15pm: Chinese Dance - Blue Sky Dancing Group
1:20pm: Hip Hop Dance - M.Eye.A
1:30pm: Hip Hop Dance - New Beginning
1:40pm: Japanese Drumming - Haere Mai Taiko
2pm: Prize Draw - Two Return Tickets to China courtesy of Air NZ
2:20pm: Zumba Fitness Dance
2:40pm: Taiji - NZ Taiji & Martial Arts Society
3:00pm: Finish

Other Activities

• Food Stalls
• Fortune Telling
• Face Painting
• Pre-school activity area

ENDS