An amazing display of traditional and modern Chinese culture hits the Esplanade this Saturday, writes Jesse Kuch

Cairns is currently in the middle of welcoming in the year of the dragon, with the city’s annual Chinese New Year celebrations kicking off this week.

Chinese culture has been present in Cairns since its inception, and since 2004 the Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc has hosted a major festival celebrating the lunar new year, which has grown into one of the city’s biggest and best-attended family events.

From live music and entertainment to traditional Chinese cultural displays, markets, dancing, martial arts, fireworks and of course, the big parade featuring the traditional dragon, lions and 12 zodiac animals, 2012’s Cairns Chinese New Year Street Festival promises to be a great day out for people of all ages.

Acts include local favourites like the Take Five Band, Tru Phaze Hip-Hop crew and the Soul Song Choir, to traditional Tai Chi and Wushu performances (with audience participation) from Alice Dong, Derek Quan and Mitchell Koh.

There will be an instrumental performance from the local Hmong community’s Vang Yee, as well as performances from other cultures such as Indonesian and Bollywood dancers and a welcome didgeridoo performance from Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park.

A full guide to the weekend’s festivities will feature in this Saturday’s edition of The Weekend Post, but for now, get set to welcome the year of the dragon in with style through the  Cairns Chinese community.

>> The Cairns and District Chinese Association Inc’s Chinese New Year Street Festival is this Saturday at Fogarty Park on the Esplanade, from 3pm-8pm. Dragon parade kicks off at 4pm, with a fireworks finale from 8pm. More information is online now at cadcai.com.au/cny

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