Rich, breath-taking stories, art, music, performances and delicious line-up of cuisine from a range of Asian cultures will be on offer at this weekend’s Tauranga Asian Food Show & Lunar New Year Festival.

The Historic Village will host the festival on Saturday, February 24 and Sunday, February 25, allowing locals and visitors to immerse themselves in Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese and other Asian cultures as the broader community comes together in a family-friendly event.

Food show

Hosted by the Tauranga branch of the New Zealand China Friendship Society, with a food show component and Lunar New Year celebration, there will be something for all ages to enjoy.

The festival will have calligraphy, traditional clothing showcases, kid’s games, and endless Asian cuisines, from savoury dumplings to Thai rice noodles.

The weekend’s highlight will be the Lunar New Year celebration, where attendees will send out wishes of prosperity and good fortune for all.

Tauranga China Friendship Society president Tina Zhang says the festival will serve as a cultural bridge, allowing Tauranga residents to immerse themselves into the rich and diverse tapestry of Asian cultures.

“The festival fosters cross-cultural understanding, appreciation, and harmony, making our community more inclusive and globally aware,” says Tina.

Celebrate diversity 

“We are looking forward to our community members coming together to celebrate diversity and enjoy the festivities, share stories and create new memories.”

More than 30 ethnic groups will share aspects of their culture with thousands from Tauranga and beyond expected to attend.

“Festival-goers will be exposed to a world of traditions, art and cuisines they may not encounter otherwise,” says Tina.

“This, in turn, will encourage more people to learn about new cultures and broadening their understanding.”

The 2024 Tauranga Asian Food Show and Lunar New Year Festival is 11am-8pm on February 24-25 at Tauranga Historic Village. Entry is gold coin donation.

For more details, see the Tauranga NZ Chinese Friendship Society Facebook Page.