Celebrate Chinese New Year at SKYCITY Auckland

Celebrate Chinese New Year at SKYCITY Auckland

Lion dancers celebrating the Lunar New Year at SKYCITY Auckland’s annual festivities which run from 7 – 22 February – for more Chinese New Year images from previous years click here

The Sky Tower will glow red and gold as SKYCITY Auckland comes alive with lion dancing, acrobatic performances, monkey-making balloon artists, lanterns and more to mark Chinese New Year with 16 days of celebration.

Festivities begin on the eve of Chinese New Year, 7pm Sunday 7 February, with free performances accompanied by firecrackers to ward off evil spirits and encourage a successful year ahead. Federal Street also will be home to an impressive lantern display from 13–22 February - including two large lanterns from Auckland’s sister city of Ningbo, China - that will appear at this year’s Auckland Lantern Festival.

The biggest day for celebration is New Year’s Day, Monday 8 February, with the auspicious ‘painting of the eye’ ceremony, to encourage good luck to all for 2016 - the Year of the Monkey. This will be followed by the arrival of the Chinese God of Fortune, who will descend from the Sky Tower and present guests with lucky ‘red envelopes’. The Sky Tower descent will be marked by a display of firecrackers, lion dancers, acrobats and stilt walkers with performers continuing to entertain guests throughout the evening. To further ensure good fortune, a Chinese Calligrapher will be writing people’s names in special scripture for them to take home, and balloon artists will create monkeys to mark the New Year.

SKYCITY Auckland General Manager John Mortensen says Chinese New Year has become one of the biggest celebrations of the year for SKYCITY, with a full festival programme to entertain visitors.

“The Chinese community plays a big part at SKYCITY Auckland, with many of our staff and customers being of Chinese heritage. SKYCITY is proud of our annual celebrations around Chinese New Year and it’s encouraging to see the celebrations have grown across Auckland. We’re pleased to honour this important event each year, celebrating Auckland’s vibrant and diverse culture.

“We’re also very pleased to give Aucklanders a sneak peek of the Auckland Lantern Festival in the heart of the CBD ahead of the Festival starting up in its new home in the Auckland Domain this year,” Mr Mortensen says.

Chinese New Year highlights:

• The Sky Tower will be lit in the traditional colours of red and gold for the duration of Chinese New Year celebrations, 7 – 22 February*

• On 8 February from 6:30 – 8:30pm guests can head to the plaza and have their names written in Chinese calligraphy to display in their house for good luck.

• People can enjoy free entertainment including Lion Dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers and balloon artists at7pm in the SKYCITY plaza every Friday and Saturday night during the New Year period.

• From 13 – 22 February, visitors can enjoy a sneak preview of the Auckland Lantern Festival (18 – 21 February at Auckland Domain) with two lanterns from the Festival on display.

• Jade Dragon restaurant will offer special a la carte and banquet menus during Chinese New Year, including wok-fried Crayfish in superior soup and Peking Duck.

ENDS

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