Yahoo Lifestyle Lunar New Year celebrated at two-day festival
Red Chinese lanterns are strung between buildings across Leicester as the city prepares for a colourful festival of processions and music to mark the Lunar New Year.
Fireworks, music, fairs, lanterns, dragon and lion dancing will fill the city streets this weekend during a two-day free event.
Millions of people across Asia and the world are celebrating the Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, which coincides with the first new moon of the lunar calendar.
Chinese communities see an abundance of red during this time as the colour symbolises good fortune and joy in their culture.
There are 2,481 people of Chinese ethnicity living in Leicester, and of those, 1,386 were born in China, according to the 2021 Census.
In Leicestershire, there are 3,571 people of Chinese ethnicity, and 1,474 were born in China.
Hundreds of people are expected to join the celebrations in Leicester city centre organised by Cosmopolitan Arts.
On Saturday
People of all ages can enjoy the Chinese culture with performances from groups including Chinese Whispers Ensemble and Euphoria, as well as interactive workshops at the Highcross from 13:00 GMT to 18:00.
Highlights include traditional Chinese dances, music and instruments, as well as acrobatics.
The workshops will offer hands-on experiences in storytelling and creative crafting.
Lion dances will also take place throughout the day at various locations across the city centre.
On Sunday
The celebrations continue, starting with a Lion Dance performance outside the food village at De Montfort University at 14:30.
A procession featuring lion dancers, puppets, dragons and Buddhas will follow at 15:00 from Jubilee Square, making its way through the city centre.
More entertainment follows from 16:30 at Town Hall Square, with lasers, martial arts demonstrations, fireworks, and concludes with a firework display for all ages.
The event has been supported by the Arts Council England, Leicester City Council and the Confucius Institute.
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