[SYDNEY] The Joyful Lunar New Year - Yuan Xiao Celebration 2026

📅 Date: Sunday, 1 March 2026

🕑 Time: 2–4pm

📍 Location: West Tigers Centre of Excellence, Concord

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Age group: Families with children aged 3 to 10

The Joyful Lunar New Year Celebration – Sydney

A Cook • Play • Learn Experience for Families (Supported by Singapore Global Network)

This year’s Sydney celebration takes place just days before Chap Goh Meh (十五暝 / Yuan Xiao) — the Lantern Festival that marks the end of Lunar New Year.

By popular vote, we’ll be making colourful tang yuan and learning about Yuan Xiao traditions as celebrated in Singapore and Malaysia, where families gather under the first full moon of the year to enjoy lanterns, sweet rice balls, games and moments of togetherness.

Designed around Joyful Plates’ Cook • Play • Learn philosophy, this joyful family event invites children to discover not just what we do during Lunar New Year, but why these traditions matter — through hands-on cooking, creative play and cultural games.

🌟 Event Highlights

🍡 Rain-bowl of Happiness: Rainbow Tang Yuan Workshop

Inspired by Singaporean Author Emily Yeo' Children's cookbook, children will make their own colourful bowl of tang yuan using natural food colouring, learning how these round rice balls symbolise reunion, harmony and family togetherness.

We will also read a story titled A Rain-bowl of Happiness (published by Singaporean authors too!) together

🧡 Mandarin Orange Keychain Craft

Create a festive mandarin orange keepsake while learning why oranges represent luck and prosperity during Lunar New Year.

🎯 Chap Goh Meh Traditions Game Play

Through playful games, children will learn about Yuan Xiao / Chap Goh Meh traditions — including the old custom of throwing mandarins into rivers — and how this day celebrates connection, hope and meeting loved ones.

🥗 Lo Hei Creative Yu Sheng Challenge

Families will arrange Yu Sheng ingredients into creative designs (horse shapes, 福 characters and more), followed by a joyful toss and sharing New Year wishes.

🎁 Redemption & Surprises

Children can redeem goodie bags, grown ups can redeem snack packs, and families can take part in our lucky draw prizes.

✨ A Joyful Plates Experience

• Hands-on cooking and crafts

• Cultural games made kid-friendly

• Meaningful family moments

• Traditions brought to life through play

🎟️ Limited spaces available

Come celebrate Lunar New Year with us in Sydney — where traditions are shared, stories are told, and joy is made together.