Start your Chinese New Year celebrations tonight at Southport Sharks and enjoy a Chinese feast and fantastic entertainment, including musicians and a traditional lion dance from 7:00 pm. Southport Sharks’ Frenzy Food Court will have a range of Chinese-inspired dishes added to the buffet, especially for the occasion. While you’re there, make sure you collect a coin from staff and place it in the lion’s mouth for good luck. Currumbin RSL will also entertain guests with a traditional lion dance  from 5:00 pm. Lettuce will be suspended from the ceiling for the lions to devour as the beat of a traditional Chinese Drum resonates through the night. Place a gold coin in the lucky red envelopes and have the lion gulp it down to secure you good fortune and luck. Dreamworld is also getting into the festive spirit with a daily schedule of celebrations.

Due to weather conditions, the Gold Coast’s new Chinatown festivities have been postponed to next Saturday February 28. Next weekend the precinct will be the place to be from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm as Young and Davenport Streets come alive with colour, cuisine and cultural entertainment. The precinct will be transformed into a delicious and inspiring cultural bazaar with an Asian Food Market and live entertainment including music, lion dancing, traditional performances and interactive activities for kids. There will also be cultural workshops including lantern painting, calligraphy and an outdoor cinema to get you into the spirit. And because no celebration is complete without fireworks, the sky will light up from 9:00 pm, weather permitting. Check the City of Gold Coast’s Facebook page for weather-related updates.

Sanctuary Cove is also welcoming in the new lunar year with a free four-day celebration from today through to Sunday. A range of family-friendly activities will be on offer including traditional lion dancing, fire cracker and kung fu displays, Chinese-inspired craft workshops, entertainment and authentic cuisine. The InterContinental Sanctuary Cove Resort is offering a Chinese feast on Saturday February 21 in Cove Cafe. The Resort’s Executive Chef, Parashuram Pathak, has created a delectable menu which will be presented buffet style. The menu features a range of signature Asian dishes including wild mushroom with egg soup, sontam green pawpaw salad, marble tofu, Kung Pao chicken and steamed pork buns among others. Indulge in the taste of Asia with a traditional lunch and dinner banquet menu on offer at Dragon Cove Chinese Cuisine, which includes homemade spring rolls, Xiao Long Bao, steamed fish with ginger and shallot and peking pork ribs for $58.00 per person. For a little extra luck this year, indulge in the Prosperity Toss Salad (pronounced as lo hei) as it is a symbol of abundance, prosperity and visor. Traditionally, when the salad is served, everyone at the table stands up and tosses the shredded ingredients into the air with chopsticks while saying various auspicious wishes out loud, or simply lo hei. It is believed that the height of the toss reflects the height of the diner’s growth in fortunes, thus diners are expected to toss enthusiastically. Perhaps keep this one confined to home time activities through, the staff may not feel as enthusiastic about your impending prosperity. Keep an eye on The Marine Village’s Facebook page for weather updates.

QT Gold Coast is also set to celebrate Chinese New Year in style. Join the festivities with an indulgent dinner at Bazaar featuring all your Chinese favourites and enjoy speciality cocktails at Stingray Lounge, where east meets west. Enjoy live dragon dances on Thursday and Friday night from 7.30 pm. Even Bunnings at Burleigh Waters is getting festive and holding a Chinese New Year Workshop for kids on Saturday from 10:00am to 10:30 am.

Chinese New Year is a celebration of family and fabulous feasts so wherever you choose to celebrate, may you have a Xīnnián kuàilè (happy new year!) and enjoy the peace, harmony and tranquillity that comes with the Year of the Goat.