Manchester city centre will be welcoming in the Year of the Dog with a weekend packed full of fun and good fortune as it celebrates Chinese New Year 2018.
The celebrations, organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District, (Manchester BID) on behalf of the city centre’s retailers, alongside the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) and Manchester City Council, will take place across the city over the weekend of Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February.
Thousands of red lanterns will brighten the city’s shopping streets and this year’s festivities will see the popular return of 2017’s 50ft giant glittering Golden Dragon which will take centre stage in St Ann’s Square alongside a Chinese Food Market serving up festive dumplings, steamed buns, dim sum and more from some of the city’s finest names in Asian food and drink, including British Street Food Awards Winners Dim Sum SU.
Cultural venues across the city including HOME and the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) will be celebrating the best in Chinese contemporary film and art with exclusive screenings and exhibitions, while families can try out traditional Chinese crafts with the Confucius Institute and CFCCA at Manchester Arndale and enjoy live music and lion dancers at locations across the city including, Manchester Art Gallery and Central Library.
Manchester’s shops will be bringing good fortune to the event with giveaways, VIP shopping events and exclusive promotions throughout the weekend and on Saturday 17, red envelopes will be handed out at Metrolink’s Exchange Square stop with lucky passengers in with a chance of winning shopping vouchers worth up to £250!
On Sunday 18, Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade led by by a spectacular 175-foot dragon will weave its way through the city’s streets from Manchester Town Hall to Chinatown, where revellers can enjoy lion dancing, martial arts displays, a funfair, over 60 food and arts & craft stalls and a spectacular fireworks finale at 6pm.
Cllr Pat Karney, Manchester City Council’s City Centre spokesperson, said: “Chinese New Year has become a real highlight in the city centre’s event calendar and the on-street events are must-see, attracting thousands of people every year. It’s a wonderful celebration of the city’s large Chinese community, but it’s always fantastic to see how the whole of Manchester comes out to enjoy the spectacle. Definitely one for all the family!”
The easiest way to move around the celebrations is by tram. Nearest Metrolink stops: Exchange Square, Market Street & St Peter’s Square.
MUST-SEE EVENTS!!
Glittering Golden Dragon
St Ann’s Square
Friday 16 – Sunday 18 February, 11am – 7pm
Head down to St Ann’s Square to see Manchester’s mesmerising giant Golden Dragon which will be taking centre stage over the Chinese New Year weekend. Share your pics using #chinesenewyearMCR.
The Dragon Parade, Chinatown Celebrations & Fireworks
Albert Square & Chinatown
Sunday 18 February, 12 – 6pm
Chinese New Year just wouldn’t be the same without the annual appearance of the city’s spectacular 175ft dragon. Follow The Dragon Parade from Albert Square to Chinatown and leave plenty of time to enjoy traditional lion dancing, street food, Chinese dancing, martial arts, music and acrobatics, a funfair and a fantastic fireworks finale.
Full timetable:
12-1pm
Martial arts, dance displays and The Dragon appears outside the Town Hall in Albert Square.
1pm
The Dragon Parade from the Town Hall to Chinatown.
1.30pm
The Dragon arrives in Chinatown to firecrackers and New Year addresses from Chinese community leaders.
2pm-5pm
The Lion and Unicorn visit and bless Chinatown’s businesses and revelers. Enjoy the funfair and spectacular Chinese acrobatics, dancing and music alongside over 60 food, arts and crafts stalls.
6pm
Fireworks finale in Chinatown.
Other events across the city include Chinese street food market, Chinese Film Festival, Creative family events in the Arndale and special shopping events at Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, Paperchase and House of Fraser!!
For more information on each event check out www.visitmanchester.com/chinesenewyear
