Golden Dragon Museum

Autumn Harvest Moon Festival

'Tales of the Moon'

Date: Saturday 22nd September - Sunday 23rd September, 2007

Venue: Museum Forecourt at Golden Dragon Museum, Bendigo

Time: To be confirmed

Cost: Free

The Harvest Moon Festival is a special celebration for the Chinese and other Asian cultures around the world. All over Asia communities celebrate the harvest together at the time when the moon is biggest and brightest.

It is a time of thanksgiving for the food which has been produced, future prosperity, health, families and friends. This year we present in free public performance 'Tales of the Moon'.

Kita Performing Arts Company has worked with local community, disability and school groups in workshops to develop performance pieces. The workshops will culminate in the presentation of a major performing arts event, 'Tales of the Moon'.

Groups involved include;

• The Bendigo Chinese Association Lion and Dragon Teams
• The Bendigo Chinese Association Plum Blossom Girls Dance Group -Sing Australia Choir
• Bendigo -Over The Moon Folk Dancers
• Credibility Network -Roz Advent's dancers
• Flora Hill Primary and Secondary Schools
• Bendigo North Primary School
• Spring Gully Primary School
• Echuca West Primary School
• Kalianna School -Bendigo Training Academy

The Awakening of the Dragon

EASTER SUNDAY

 

EVENT: The Bendigo Chinese Association Awakening of the Dragon

TIME: 2pm

VENUE: McCrae Street car park opposite B.R.I.T

COST: Free event

 

Easter Sunday, at 2pm is the Awakening of the Dragon ceremony. This ceremony is unique to Bendigo, having its beginnings very early on in Bendigo’s Chinese history, and being performed nowhere else in the world.  The ceremony includes performances by the famous Southern Lions (See Gee), who always appear with the dragon. There are martial arts displays, a parade of processional costumes, other traditional forms of Chinese dance and the only Easter performance of the Northern or Peking Lions.

 

A lot of noise is required to awaken Sun Loong, who will slowly rouse himself from his year long slumber to walk in the procession the following day, so large amounts of fire crackers are exploded, culminating with many strings of 10,000 crackers as the grand finale.

Chun Loong Celebration

EASTER MONDAY

 

EVENT: 'Chun Loong' celebration

TIME: After the Gala Procession

VENUE: The Golden Dragon Museum, 5 - 11 Bridge Street, Bendigo, 3550

COST: Free event

 

On Easter Monday, after Sun Loong has paraded in the Bendigo Streets, he returns back to his resting place. Tiered seating is provided outside the Golden Dragon Museum for people to view this amazing event when Sun Loong and his regalia return.

 

Sun Loong enters backwards, through the big red doors, while the Southern Lions perform outside protecting and paying respect to Sun Loong.

 

The finale is the loud noise of many stings of 10,000 crackers, ending the Bendigo Chinese Association and the Golden Dragon Museum's Easter celebrations in 2008.