Lunar New Year 2021 falls on Friday 12 February this year, and although there isn’t the influx of Chinese tourists into Australia due to travel restrictions, the more than 1.2 million Australians (2016 census) with Chinese ancestry have much to celebrate.
As we move away from the ‘Year of the Rat’ that certainly delivered much uncertainty, the Year of the Ox represents hard work. Commentators have suggested it usually signifies movements. Shopping centres around the country have again embraced the festival with a number of COVID-safe activations, a focus on the traditions of gift giving and beautiful decorations to bring in the new year.
Chadstone – The Fashion Capital will come to life with Lunar New Year gifting, spend-to-win offers, and traditional holiday dining experiences.
From 1 February, visitors can shop Chadstone’s thoughtfully curated Lunar New Year Gift Guide for inspiration to find something special for everyone. The Lunar New Year Gift Guide will feature an extensive and lust-worthy array of gifts and limited-edition items from Chadstone’s extensive stable of retailers, including Celine, Aje, Marimekko, L’Occitane, Saba, and Pandora.
The centre has a thoughtfully designed red bamboo garden will offer visitors a tranquil escape from the flurry of holiday gift-buying and colourful celebrations. Inspired by nature, the striking circular installation situated in the heart of Chadstone’s luxury precinct will symbolise strength, flexibility and health.
Chadstone encourages gift buying with exclusive free gifts
Visitors who spend $1,888 or more at participating luxury retailers, including Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co., and present their same day receipts at the Lunar New Year activation will receive a $50 Chadstone gift card and one-month complimentary valet parking. Visitors who spend $6,888 or more will receive overnight accommodation at Hotel Chadstone with breakfast for two at Pastore.
Highpoint Shopping Centre has created The Lucky Tea House, a contemporary Chinese-inspired tea room, will arrive in centre on Saturday 13 February and shoppers are invited to discover their good fortune with lots of treats available and free prizes up for grabs until Sunday 14 February 2021.
Highpoint’s Lucky Tea House provides an exciting focal point to the celebration
Across the course of the Spring Festival at Highpoint, shoppers who spend $120 in centre will be granted exclusive access to the Lucky Tea House, where they will discover three ‘lucky’ stations which includes custom designed fortune cards that doubles as a lucky scratchie, complimentary bubble tea and fortune cookies and The Lucky Dumpling Cart which reveals exclusive prizes from within dumpling steamer baskets.
Melbourne Central is set to host Melbourne’s first Lunar Feast Festival, celebrating with Asian inspired flavours and dishes, competitions, live music, free weekend parking and exclusive merchandise.
The Lunar Mart ‘pop up’ over two weekends at Shot Tower Square will be jam packed with limited edition merch up for grabs – think eco-friendly bubble tea straws, spring festival bucket hats, spicy pins and dumpling airpod cases.
Customers simply spend $8 or more on your favourite dish, keep your receipt and head to the Lunar Mart to score free merch.
Dumpling airpod cases will be a hit at Melbourne Central
NUTTEA, the go-to for the best vegan bubble tea in town, will be serving up strawberry fruit tea with their signature nut cream. Pretzel have crafted a good fortune pretzel with a cinnamon twist and for a savoury treat, Buza Chicken delivers hot-pot.
Thanks to Secret Sneaker Store, Melburnians will have the chance to win the most bougie sneaker set including two pairs of Nike X Clot X Fragment Air Force 1s and a $1,000 Secret Sneaker Store gift card, totalling $4K in value.
As part of its good fortune offerings, The Square Mirrabooka is giving customers the chance to experience authentic Cantonese flavours and delicious Dim Sum with Master Chef’s very own Derek Lau. Three lucky winners will enjoy an exclusive dinner experience for two, hosted by the Series 11 Master Chef fan-favourite at the centre’s newly launched dining offering, Canton Bay.
Master Chef’s very own Derek Lau and Sandy, the owner of Canton Bay serves up delicious cuisine
The Square Mirrabooka will also be giving away over $3,000 worth of good fortune prizes. Customers who spend $88 or more, in-centre and in one day, can pick up a lucky red envelope. Over 400 prizes are up for grabs.
Alongside the good fortune offerings, traditional Chinese lion dance performances will be roving through the centre, adding to the lively array of activities.
The Square Mirrabooka Centre Manager, Allana Edwards said they’re looking forward to seeing the community come together to celebrate Lunar New Year. “The Square Mirrabooka has a rich mix of retailers and customers. As the home of authentic cultural experiences in our community, we pride ourselves on bringing to life Lunar New Year within the centre.”
Traditional Chinese lion dance performances will entertain locals
To celebrate Lunar New Year, in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, Chifley has delivered a main interactive lobby display revealing the fortune for each of the Chinese Zodiac animals, specific to career, relationships and lifestyle coupled with ‘surprise and delight’ custom fortune cookies.
The display coincides with a competition to ‘Win a Montblanc Pen’ valued at $1,595.
Chifley celebrates the new year
