More than 2000 LED lanterns, including 1000 animal shaped lights, have arrived in town ahead of Sunday’s Sunshine Lantern Festival.
Sunshine Business Association president Carson Luk said the festival is expected to bring more than 30,000 people to Sunshine’s CBD this year, and is the largest lantern festival held in Victoria.
The lantern parade is part of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, held around south east Asia on the 15th day of the eighth month of the 13-month Chinese lunar calendar.
Handmade lanterns are popular for all Chinese celebrations, and Sunshine has embraced the much-loved symbol as its own.
Sunshine’s festival will be held between 10am and 8pm, with the lantern parade wending its way along Hampshire Road at the end of the day.
There will be roving street performers, children’s rides, jumping castles, market and food stalls, a lion and dragon dance, fireworks, face painting and … lantern making.
Mr Luk said the festival is always a hit with young families.
“The children love it,” he said.
He’ll be bringing his five-month-old daughter Heather along to experience her very first taste of Sunshine’s mid-autumn festival in spring.
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Garden into golden age
Love gardening? Then you’re invited to the latest Sunshine Golden Age Garden Club get-together at the Glengala Community Hall on September 14 from 5.30pm. Hear a garden expert talk about the latest trends in trees and fruit trees. The get-together includes the SGAGC’s annual plant sale.
■ 9312 7370 or stanley.ligeza@gmail.com
Art of illustration
Local illustrators can get some handy hints when the latest Infuse artists’ network event features award-winning illustrator Meredith Thomas. She will discuss the illustrative process and show samples of different stylistic approaches at the Visy Cares Hub on September 8, from 6pm until 8pm.
■ artspaces@brimbank.vic.gov.au or 9249 4600
Pasifika dreaming
Young people from five local schools will perform at My Island Dream – a Pasifika Youth Arts Festival on September 10 at the Enjoy Church in Sunshine North. Designed by young people of Pasifika backgrounds, the festival will include Samoan, Tongan and Hawaiian dance, choirs and bands, from 4pm until 6.30pm. Tickets $5.
■ www.brimbankyouth.com or 9249 4000
Clean-up by the creek
A Clean Up the World event will be held at Sunshine’s Buckingham Reserve on September 17, from 10.30am. Hosted by the Friends of Kororoit Creek, the clean-up will target the creek by Buckingham Reserve. Bring your friends and neighbours down, there will be rubbish bags, gloves and pick-up tools waiting.
■ 0402 097 028 or jodie@total-wellbeing.com.au
Festival of words
Author Tony Birch, shortlisted for a Miles Franklin Literary award, heads the impressive line-up of writers at the Brimbank Writer and Readers Festival, which started last week. Events include workshops, author talks, interviews, storytelling, panel discussions, until September 11. Events are free, but bookings are essential.
■ www.brimbank.vic.gov.au or email writersfestival@brimbank.vic.gov.au
Live the good life
Brimbank council’s free sustainable living series offers first-hand knowledge from experts and access to resources. Workshops include Sustainable House Day September 11; green cleaning September 17; waterwise kids September 27; home-grown day October 9; organic pest control October 20 and recycling gems November 13. Bookings required.
■ 9249 4665 or environment@brimbank.vic.gov.au/environmentevents
Business tax 101
New to business or thinking of starting a business? Register for a free event run by the Australian Tax Office on September 8 from 9am until noon at 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine.
■ ecodev@brimbank.vic.gov.au or 9249 4413
Poetry explained
Budding poets should get down to the Visy Cares Hub for a free poetry workshop on September 8 from 5pm to 6pm. Melbourne writer Ebony MonCrief will have tips on storytelling and style, offering an honest look at the person behind the words.
