CADCAI to celebrate 20 years of Chinese Lunar New Year

Celebrating 20 years of Chinese Lunar New Year in the Far North, Cairns and District Chinese Association will celebrate the new year with food, fun and firecrackers.

The Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc is celebrating the Year of the Dragon, with Lunar New Year events kicking off across the city with a Chinese heritage presentation and morning tea at the Cairns Museum. Billy Lee Long, author and guest speaker Julia Volkmar and CADCAI heritage manager Mary Low share some green tea together at the conclusion of the presentation. Picture: Brendan Radke

Celebrating 20 years of Chinese Lunar New Year in the Far North, Cairns and District Chinese Association will celebrate 2024 with food, fun and firecrackers at Cairns Lagoon Plaza on Saturday.

Lunar New Year celebrations began on Thursday with a cultural high tea at the Cairns Museum as preparations continue for the first day of the Lunar New Year calendar.

CADCAI president Lai Chu Chan said this year would be a celebration of the Wood Dragon on the Chinese Zodiac calendar.

“Chinese people see the dragon as a symbol of power, and as very benevolent, kind and fun, looking after people. Because this is the year of the wood dragon, wood symbolises growth so it’s a year of growth for businesses, academic results and austerity in relationships,” she said.

“So we’re hoping that the year of the dragon will bring good luck to everybody after everything that’s happened.”

CADCAI heritage manager Mary Lowe said she was happy to see how much the Cairns community had supported the event throughout the past 20 years.

“The festival, lion dancing and all of it is part and parcel of community engagement, being part of the broader community and keeping those (cultural) stories alive,” she said.

Originally published as CADCAI to celebrate 20 years of Chinese Lunar New Year