Bunbury Chinese Lantern Festival set to light the night

Bunbury’s International Friendship Garden will be transformed into a world of light and colour this weekend with the city’s first Chinese Lantern Festival.

While the annual Chinese New Year Festival will not go ahead in its usual capacity, organiser Amanda Yip said it was important to continue a celebration of Chinese culture.

“We usually do a big street festival, but we wanted to make something smaller and COVID-friendly this year so it could still go ahead,” she said.

“A lot of Chinese families can’t be with their families this year because of travel restrictions.

We wanted to continue the traditions and celebration of Chinese culture.

Special displays will be held at the Migrant Memorial and the Labyrinth, and a complementary light show will highlight the colours of the lanterns and illuminate the walk trail.

“It will be a beautiful sight of flickering lights and colours,” Ms Yip said.

A giant ox lantern created by a local artist will be on display to symbolise the Year of the Ox, as well coffee and ice-cream vans for those chasing a sweet treat as they stroll while traditional Chinese music plays in the background.

The lanterns will be lit up again on Sunday night for Valentine’s Day.