Crowds gather to welcome in the year of the snake

Festival goers were treated to ‘the best’ lantern festival yet, as crowds gather to celebrate the end of Chinese New Year’s festivities.

The Cairns and District Chinese Association ended their lunar new year festivities with the CADCAI lantern festival, or Yuan Xiao. A large crowd attends the festival at the lagoon forecourt to watch and listen to the Drum Infinity Mugendai Japanese taiko drummers. Picture: Brendan Radke

Festival goers were treated to ‘the best’ lantern festival yet, as crowds gather to celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year’s festivities.

A celebration of culture drew hundreds of people to the Cairns Esplanade on Saturday night as crowds gathered to enjoy traditional foods, dances and stunning fireworks.

The annual lantern festival acts as a closing bracket for Chinese New Year celebrations but Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc. spokeswoman Amy Sing said the feedback was incredible.

The Cairns and District Chinese Association ended their lunar new year festivities with the CADCAI lantern festival, or Yuan Xiao, at the Cairns Esplanade lagoon forecourt. Jasmine Cho of the Molihau Dancers performed a beautiful dance for the large crowd in attendance at the festival. Picture: Brendan Radke

“From just the few snippets of conversations I’ve had with people, they’ve said it was the best one that they’ve had, that they’ve experienced,” Ms Sing said.

“We’ve listened to feedback from people that come year in, year out, and obviously, we always want to make it a good experience.”

“With Council’s support, we were able to expand our footprint a little bit this year…we spread out across different areas, we had different types of seating this year, and we set up, you know, little cafe tables.”

The Cairns and District Chinese Association ended their lunar new year festivities with the CADCAI lantern festival, or Yuan Xiao, at the Cairns Esplanade lagoon forecourt. Derek Quan performed a mesmerising display of the ancient Chinese martial art Wushu. Picture: Brendan Radke

Between 5 and 7.30pm onlookers where treated with various cultural performances including Japanese drumming, Indonesian Dancers and various other performances before fireworks capped the evening.

Ms Sing said the highly anticipated event was only possible through the hard work and dedication from a vast network of volunteers and sponsors.

The Cairns and District Chinese Association ended their Year of the Snake lunar new year festivities with the lantern festival at the Cairns Esplanade forecourt. Maki McCarthy, Hiromi Aslin, Rina Niwa, Yuka Nakamura, Chee Tanaka, Yumi Namba, Aki Murao and Rika Oawa of the Akabanaa Eisaa drumming group had their first public performance at the festival. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We have a big group of volunteers that help out….none of these events could happen without them,” Ms Sing said.

“The Council has also really been supportive as well, so we work really well together with them and they support all our needs.

“It’s a group effort that’s for sure.”

A Yum Cha lunch on Sunday marked the very last event of the Chinese New Year celebrations which welcomed in the year of the snake.

Originally published as Crowds gather to welcome in the year of the snake