3 min readThe heart of Manchester will soon come alive with colour, culture and celebration as the city gears up for its much-anticipated Chinese New Year festivities. Taking place on 1st and 2nd February 2025, this year’s celebrations promise to be a dazzling display of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture, cantered on the iconic Chinatown district and featuring the legendary Dragon Parade through the city streets.
A Celebration Like No Other
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and is one of the most important holidays in the Chinese calendar. This year, Manchester’s Chinatown will be transformed into a festive wonderland, with lanterns, music, food, and family-friendly activities creating a magical atmosphere.
The Spectacular Dragon Parade
The highlight of the festivities will be the Dragon Parade, a magnificent procession featuring a stunning traditional dragon, acrobatic performances, dancers and drummers. Starting from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12pm on 2nd February 2025 the parade will make its way along Portland Street, captivating audiences of all ages before concluding in Chinatown where there will be a final performance on Princess Street.
Photography Credit: Carl Sukonik, The Vain PhotographyJoin the Celebration
Lisa Yam, President the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) which organises the event, said “Chinese New Year is a time for togetherness, reflection, and joy. We are thrilled to invite residents and visitors to experience the rich cultural heritage of Manchester’s Chinese community through these vibrant celebrations. There is truly something for everyone to enjoy.”
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure the best views of the parade and performances. Public transport options are available, and visitors are advised to check schedules and routes in advance.
Attendees should be aware that the area will get very busy and crowded during the parade on Sunday 2nd February between 12pm and 2pm. Those wishing to avoid this should time their visit accordingly and look to take in some of the other activities and highlights across the weekend.
Those visiting with dogs, luggage including large rucksacks and push chairs are also encouraged to avoid Chinatown between 12pm – 2pm on Sunday. We would recommend these visitors enjoy the parade from elsewhere along the route.
Activities and Highlights
Visitors to Chinatown can also enjoy a host of other activities throughout the two days, including:
Authentic Street Food: Sample a variety of delicious Chinese delicacies from local vendors.
Cultural Performances: Watch mesmerising traditional dance and music performances on the main stage in Chinatown carpark on both Saturday and Sunday. Highlights will include performances from the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe at 2:45pm and 3:45pm on Sunday and a DJ playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs from 8:00pm to 10:00pm on Saturday.
Night Dragon: FCAM’s famous night dragon will be making appearances in the Chinatown Carpark at 6:30pm and 7:30pm on Saturday 1st February.
Record Breaking Illuminated Dragon: The weekend of celebrations will culminate in a spectacular procession through the streets of Chinatown from 6:30pm on Sunday 2nd February. Organisers will be recruiting people on the day to participate in dancing the dragon.
Event Details
Date: 1st and 2nd February, 2025
Times: Stage performances, funfair and food market from 12:00pm – 20:00pm on 1st February 2025 and 12:00pm – 20:00pm on 2nd February 2025.
Dragon parade: from 12:00pm -1:30pm on 2nd February 2025.
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