The City of Sydney council promotes the Year of the Dog at Dawes Point. Credit:Nick Moir The Lunar New Year celebrations will start on Friday and end on March 4. From Circular Quay to Cabramatta, here are some highlights of what to see and do across Sydney. Chinese New Year Opening Night at Circular Quay The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be lit up by a red glow and fireworks on the opening night.

A large dog lantern has been constructed at the Opera House forecourt to celebrate the start of the Chinese new year of the dog Credit:Wolter Peeters Friday, 5.30pm-11pm. Lunar Lanterns Trail at Circular Quay A large rooster lantern has been constructed at the Overseas Passenger Terminal to celebrate the start of the Chinese new year of the dog. Credit:Wolter Peeters Twelve lanterns, up to 13 metres high, will be positioned throughout Circular Quay; each lantern representing one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Each lantern has been designed by an Asian-Australian artist. Follow the trail of the lanterns to find your zodiac animal, although they are best seen after dusk when lit up in full colour. You can also visit Chinatown to see two additional dog lanterns standing guard above Dixon Street, Haymarket, until March 8. Friday-February 25, all day. Red pocket treasure hunt at World Square

See World Square's signature dragon sculpture come to life through augmented reality on your smart device. Follow it on a red pocket treasure hunt that will reveal exclusive retailer offers and a chance to win weekly prizes when you reach the grand finale. Until March 5, all day. Community performance program at The Rocks From 5pm, groups will take to an outdoor stage at The Rocks to perform opera, classical music, choir, fashion shows, tai chi and kung fu.

At 7pm, there will be a one-hour Lunar Spectacular Show, featuring traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Indonesian dancing, Korean drumming, Japanese hip hop, the Chinese New Year Festival Dancers and stilt walking. Friday to Sunday, from 5pm-8pm, and February 23-25, from 5pm-8pm. Blacktown City Lunar New Year celebrations Ring in the Year of the Dog with food, family and fireworks at the Chang Lai Yuan Chinese Gardens in Blacktown with more than 20,000 locals and visitors. There will be live entertainment, food, market stalls, jumping castles and workshops teaching lantern making, calligraphy, fan decorating and origami.

Don't forget to bring a picnic blanket and settle into a prime spot for viewing the fireworks at 9pm. Friday, 5pm-9pm. Chinese New Year dragon boat races, Cockle Bay Wharf Join thousands of spectators to watch one of the highlights of the Lunar New Year festival with the spectacular dragon boat races at Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour. The race will start with a Taoist eye dotting ceremony and the blessing of the waters to ensure a safe weekend of racing, followed by dabbing red paint onto the eyes of each boat's figureheads in the awakening of the dragons.

There will be more than 100 races running every 10 minutes, each carrying 22 rowers, plus a drummer to lead the paddling with a rhythmic beat. Watching the event is free and open to the public. February 24, 8am-6pm, and February 25, 9am-4pm. Frameshift, performance art Customs House, Circular Quay Australian theatre company Stalker Theatre, Korean vertical performance group Creative Dandi and Seoul b-boy group Drifterz crew have come together to provide a show-stopping performance.

Frameshift is an aerial theatre show that will be packed with acrobatic tricks in a multi-layered set that includes aerial rigs, circular tracking and a climbing gym. This performance will be the Australian premiere. Friday-February 18, 8.30pm-9.30pm. Single Asian Female, Belvoir St Theatre Michelle Law's play Single Asian Female, follows a family of Chinese women living in the suburbs of the Sunshine Coast, as it tackles issues of racial stereotypes, family and romance with "sensitivity and humour".

It's described as a play that is "funny, touching and at times profoundly moving" and it's making its debut in Sydney this Lunar New Year. Friday-March 25. Tet festival at Fairfield Showground This three-day festival celebrates the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, with more than 60,000 people expected to attend. There will be amusement rides, fireworks, cultural performances and a pho eating competition.

February 23-February 25, from 8am to 6pm. Lunar New Year at Parramatta Sit back and enjoy traditional and contemporary cultural performances from China, Vietnam and South Korea, as well as delicious food. You can also take part in calligraphy, lantern making and cooking classes. The event will feature a family friendly Lunar Lounge, Lantern Garden installation, firecracker display, dragon and lion dances and a fireworks finale at 9pm.

Friday, 5pm-9.30pm. Chinese New Year at Sydney Fish Market, Pyrmont Sydney Fish Market will host a lion dance to welcome in the New Year in traditional fashion, handing out special fortune cookies filled with fish-pun fortunes. Plenty of food will be available. Friday, 4pm-10pm.

Chinese New Year at Luna Park Lunar Park will be pulling out all the stops to welcome the Lunar New Year, including a dumpling pop-up, traditional lion dancing performances and colourful firecracker displays. Plus, don't forget to take advantage of Spin 'n' Swim, where you can enter North Sydney Pool for free with your unlimited rides pass. Friday-February 18. Lunar New Year at Cabramatta

Cabramatta will come to life as Fairfield City celebrates the Lunar New Year with a range of cultural festivities including the God of Fortune, lion dancing, firecrackers and traditional performers. The Australian Vietnamese Volunteers Association will demonstrate how to make origami (apricot) flowers. You can also create paper flowers for the traditional mai tree, so it can reach its full bloom as part of the festival. There will also be single-handed prawn peeling competitions. March 3-4, 9am-4pm.

Dog day at Maritime Museum, Pyrmont To celebrate the Year of the Dog, the Australian National Maritime Museum is inviting dog lovers to bring their canine friends to enjoy activities inspired by animals featured in its exhibitions. You can learn animal stories through performances, tours, trails, face painting, dress-ups and creative crafts. Please make sure your doggy friend is fully vaccinated, on a leash at all times and is socialised and generally non-aggressive to people or other dogs. March 4, 11am-4pm