But Sunday's Chinese New Year celebration in Civic was an all singing, all dancing affair.

Hundreds of Canberrans turned out to watch singers, dancers and kung fu grand masters see in the Year of the Snake on the final day of the National Multicultural Festival.

Performers young and old dressed colourfully for the day-long celebration and showcase of Canberra's talent, which ranged from school-aged choirs to kung fu masters shattering slabs of concrete while lying atop a bed of nails.

''The only thing we haven't got is the parade of lions and dragons, but that will happen next weekend,'' Mr Wong said.

''People born in the Year of the Snake are usually very intelligent, introverted … They may not talk very much but they are good team players and are very loyal.

''The snake in general is very resilient and swift, so recovery and rebuilding are positive things about those years.''

Mr Wong, who is chairman of the Canberra Multicultural Community Forum, said the three-day multicultural festival had been ''wonderful''.

''We think the number of people at this year's festival is at least equal or better than last year, which was 260,000,'' he said.

Dunlop resident Megan Lewis, who watched her children perform in the New Year celebrations, said she was impressed by the festival.

''We love it,'' she said.

''It's well organised this year.

''It's well spread out and not so crowded.''

Fourteen-year-old Katie Kozjak, of Dunlop, danced in yesterday's showcase.

''This is our third year dancing and it's a great time being here each year,'' she said.

Braddon resident Megan Mayne was enjoying a Moroccan mezze plate at the festival on Sunday afternoon and said the variety of cuisine was a standout.

''It's really good - lots of food, lots of variety,'' she said.

''The food is definitely my favourite thing.''