Chinese New Year celebrations are set to take over the city this February, with plans including a huge dragon parade, live performances and fantastic food.
Taking place across Sat 1 Feb & Sun 2 Feb, the famous red lanterns will transform the city’s streets as they come alive with a vibrant array of free, family-friendly festivities.
Chinatown will again be the focal point of the festival, and will be filled with street food from local vendors, arts and craft workshops and a funfair. There will also be Djs playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs on Saturday evening from 8pm, while, also on Saturday, a night dragon parade will take place in the Chinatown car park at 6.30pm and 7.30pm
The much-loved dragon parade returns on Sunday. The spectacular procession, which features a winding traditional dragon, acrobatic performers, ribbon dancers and drummers will set off from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12pm, before making its way down Portland Street towards Chinatown for a final display.
Elsewhere in the programme, the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe will deliver jaw-dropping performances on Sunday at 2.45pm and 3.45pm.
Where else is hosting Chinese New Year celebrations?
Manchester Museum will be getting a head start on the celebrations, hosting a series of exciting performances — from a lion dance, traditional Chinese dance and choir singing to K-pop and C-pop — on Wed 22 Jan. There will also be an acrobatics display, try-on costume sessions and Malaysian and Taiwanese food offerings.
On Sat 22 Feb, Stockport Plaza hosts a family-friendly show packed with colour as Jinlong Culture & Performing Arts return with their 18-metre dragon, cheerful lions and Kung Fu demonstrations.
Featuring more than 110 diverse vendors, the Lunar New Year Market comes to Market Street, Exchange Square and New Cathedral Street, with even more food and performances across both Saturday and Sunday.
Featured image credit: Fabio De Paola/PA Wire.
- Words:
- Brad Lengden
- Published on:
- Mon 20 Jan 2025
