Willoughby City Council’s 2025 Chatswood Lunar New Year Festival has generated close to $80 million in economic activity, drawing thousands to the month-long celebration of the Year of the Snake.
The festival featured a range of public events including the “Snake Trail,” a curated art walk through the Chatswood CBD with large-scale snake sculptures. Other components included food trails, an art exhibition, and cultural events across Council-run venues. The Golden Market operated three days each week, contributing to the area’s economic activity and supporting local vendors.
Celebration Day on February 1 attracted around 60,000 visitors to Victoria Avenue, where an illuminated lantern parade and market stalls created a central attraction. On that day alone, nearly $4 million was spent, with approximately $1 million going toward food and dining.
In total, $15 million of the festival’s economic impact came from food and dining, reflecting the strong support for local hospitality businesses during the celebrations. Additional attractions, such as lion dancing performances and the interactive Fortune Booth, helped sustain community engagement throughout the month.
Mayor Tanya Taylor said, “The Chatswood Year of the Snake Festival has been yet another huge success for Chatswood and surrounds, both culturally and economically. Not only did the festival bring our community together to celebrate cultural prosperity and good health for the year ahead, but it also showcases Willoughby’s vibrant local businesses and the dedicated people behind them.”