SkyCity Auckland celebrates Chinese New Year
Thousands of locals and visitors alike are expected to visit SkyCity Auckland at the end of this month to bring in Chinese New Year in spectacular style.
The celebrations will span from Friday 24 January through until Sunday 26 January, with a day-long festival on Federal Street to welcome in the Year of the Rat on Chinese New Year Day (Saturday 25 January).
The Chinese New Year Federal Street Festival will feature colourful cultural performances and activities for those young and old, including lion dancing, taiko drumming, balloon artists, and more. Set amongst the backdrop of a beautiful Cherry Blossom tree, Auckland Night Markets and craft market stalls will also pop up under the Sky Tower.
Chief Executive Officer Graeme Stephens says that SkyCity is thrilled to showcase Chinese New Year for the 24th year, one of the most important festivals in the Chinese community.
“The popular celebration has grown to become one of the biggest events on the calendar, and is a special way for us to celebrate the diversity of Auckland, and our team at SkyCity, with many customers and staff of Chinese heritage,” says Mr Stephens.
On Chinese New Year Day, Mr Stephens will be onsite to witness the God of Fortune perform a SkyJump from the Sky Tower and partake in the traditional ‘painting of the eye’ ceremony, a custom which brings on good luck. Following this, firecrackers will be lit to ward off evil spirits.
SkyCity’s Chinese restaurant Huami will also offer an authentic contemporary set menu, exclusively designed for Chinese New Year.
To top off the celebrations, the Sky Tower will be illuminated in the lucky colours of red and gold on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 January.
Chinese New Year is always an exciting time for SkyCity Auckland, last year its accredited ‘China Ready’ group took out the Auckland International Airport award for ‘Contribution to the Growth of Chinese Tourism in New Zealand’ at the HSBC NZCTA Supreme China Business Awards.
Over the past three years, the China Ready Group has been working hard to improve the Chinese customer experience at SkyCity. The team has since introduced important chat and pay tools such as WeChat, WePay and AliPay.
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