One of the largest festivals outside of China to herald in the Year of the Horse is set to take place in Sydney in 2014.

Pop down to the CBD in your car hire in Sydney to take part in some of the activities on offer during the month long festival, which kicks off on January 24.

On the table

There will be plenty of delicious food to tempt your taste buds during this time, so why not make the most of the holiday and indulge in a few of your favourite Chinese dishes?

Head down for some market food treats at Belmore Park, or pop into one of the many restaurants in the city. Many of these eateries will be offering Lunar Feasts set price meals that are sure to please your tastes and you know what you are getting into price wise before you order.

Or you could learn how to whip up a delicious dish in the comfort of your own kitchen with a lesson from the Chinese New Year AYAM kitchen.

Learn from the best with top chef, Chui Lee Luk, giving you tips on how to cook like a professional chef. If you want to pick up a few techniques or learn about the types of ingredients to include, this could be a great class to take.

You can also partake in some of the entertainment options gracing the shores of Sydney. Music and other entertainment will be available at Belmore Park.

The Twilight Parade

The Twilight Parade, on January 2, will light up the city streets with a range of colourful floats organised by a variety of community groups to celebrate the majestic animal of the horse. This fascinating display is sure to wow the crowd!

A wonderful display of projections from the Electric Canvas will be on display around the city buildings and you may be able to spot a prancing pony or two.

In addition to this, the ‘Lucky Children of the Four Seasons’ who each symbolise harvest and prosperity will be in attendance. These symbols can be seen in Hu Ming’s colourful New Year artwork.

There will be a few highlights at the festival sure to bring back memories of childhood – the rocking horses and carousels just two of them.

Dragon Boat Races

Another must-do event is the Dragon Boat race competition, which makes for great viewing on 8-9 February. Taking place at Cockle Bay, you can see teams of 20 battle it out for the top title.

Dragons have a special place in Chinese culture – the animal is a mix of ox, deer, horse and snake. It rides the clouds in the sky, commanding wind, rain and mist.

The dragon boat racing has been a major part of Chinese culture for 2,000 years or so and has come to represent patriotism and group integrity.

Crossing Boundaries

While you’re in town, make the most of the car hire Sydney Domestic Airport travellers choose for great rates and availability and visit as many attractions as possible.

The town hall is a must visit. During the festival it will host an art exhibition, ‘Crossing Boundaries,’ which is a celebration of contemporary Asian-Australian art. It explores the relationships and artistic exchange between these two cultures and comes together to provide a wonderful celebration of the Chinese New Year.

Here you can view work in a range of mediums – from painting, ceramics and sculpture to photography, multimedia, performance and installations.

The original ‘Safety and Peace in Four Seasons’ piece by Chinese artist Hu Ming will also be on display. You may recognise this from the banners found around the city announcing the festival.