The countdown to Chinese New Year is officially on with January 28th 2017 marking the start of the Year of the Rooster. With celebrations taking place up and down the country here’s what you need to know if you’d like to join in with the parades and fireworks taking place throughout the UK.
London
When: Sunday 29th January from 10am – 6pm
Where: As usual, London’s celebrations are set to be the biggest outside of Asia, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to descend on Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and the West End which will be filled with music, activities, acrobatics and pyrotechnics.
This year the fun kicks off at 10am with a colourful parade featuring dance teams and a flying Chinese lion. The grand finale in Trafalgar Square will close the New Year celebrations with a spectacular fireworks show. Families should head down to Charing Cross Road where there’ll be musical performances, martial arts displays as well as crafts and workshops.
In other parts of London, The Magical Lantern Festival will be open for visitors at Chiswick House and Gardens until 26th February 2017, whilst The London Eye will be marking the arrival of the Chinese New Year with a special red and gold light show every hour from 4pm on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday (January 27th – 29th).
Manchester
When: Thursday 26th January – Sunday 29th January
Where: Manchester city centre will host a four day programme celebrating the very best of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. More than 6,000 traditional red lanterns will adorn the city’s streets alongside stunning light shows, firework displays, Chinese and Asian food villages, live music, traditional performances and a host of city wide family events.
Head to Albert Square at midday on 29th January to see the spectacular 175-foot Dragon, then follow The Dragon Parade at 1pm as it heads down Portland Street and into Chinatown. Celebrations continue in Chinatown with classical Chinese lion dances, music, acrobatics, dancing and a funfair to enjoy. The skies above Chinatown will be lit up with the firework finale at 6pm.
Liverpool
When: Friday 26th – Sunday 29th January
Where: Chinese New Year will be marked with three days of celebrations with thousands of lanterns illuminating Bold Street and Chinatown. Also lighting up Chinatown will be a special lumiere event telling the ancient myth of Jingwei and the Ocean. Running from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on January 27 and 28, and 5pm to 6pm on January 29, the bespoke show will be projected onto the iconic Chinese Arch, Black-E and The Arch.
The more traditional Chinese New Year celebrations can be enjoyed on Sunday 29th January from 11am. Great George Square, Nelson Square, Berry Street and Great George Street are the areas to head to for fantastic stalls and performances featuring flower drums, dance, family workshops, martial arts and of course the firecracker display and crowd pulling dragon parade. Across the weekend, people can also take part in a specially created augmented reality trail which will take people on a tour through some amazing moments in Chinese cultural history in Liverpool.
Liverpool’s Merseyside Maritime Museum will be engaging in the celebrations by inviting families to bring children along to paint dragons and oriental pictures on the day itself.
Birmingham
When: Sunday January 29, from 11am until 4pm.
Where: The celebration of the Chinese New Year is one of the biggest events in Birmingham, attracting up to 30,000 people. Building on the success of previous years, plans will see the capacity double in size for this year’s event. Expect to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment at the Arcadian Centre with Dragon dances, acrobatic performances and Kung Fu demonstrations being just some of the cultural entertainment amongst the traditional firecrackers, market stalls and food. Children’s rides can also be relished.
The Birmingham International Airport stage, situated outside Chung Ying, will welcome local community groups and university students to perform throughout the day. Birmingham Hippodrome will also take part in the festivities with traditional performances outside their main entrance and children’s workshops in the Patrick Centre.
Leeds
When: Sunday 29th January, from 10.30am
Where: This year’s event will be taking place at Leeds Town Hall and it promises to be a day of excitement and celebration to give you a real taste of China. There will be spectacular theatre performances of dancing, music, Chinese calligraphy, Kung Fu and Tai Chi. Plus trade stands offering a variety of Chinese food, crafts, beauty and face Painting.
Tickets on sale from 10.30 am on the day from Leeds Town Hall and the workshops begin 11.00am. £5 for adults / £3 for ages under 16/students with students card/over 60s and disabled persons.
Newcastle
When: Sunday 29th January 2017 from 11am to 4pm
Where: The event will be kicking off in the heart of Newcastle’s Chinatown on Stowell Street. The area will come alive with a vibrant and colourful party complete with dragon and lion dances, firecrackers, children’s activities, performances and stalls. There will also be a Children’s market with a performance stage, children’s marquee and fairground around Bath Lane and Thornton Square.
One of the main messages of Chinese New Year is for families and friends to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity for the year ahead. So, from all of us at Legacy of Taste, Kung Hei Fat Choi!
