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Chinese New Year events in Manchester

New for this year is a spectacular illuminated dragon dance, lighting up Chinatown with performances on Friday (5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm), Saturday (5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm) and Sunday (5.30pm).

Chinatown’s celebrations will be the biggest yet, extending across all three days from noon to 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am to 8pm on Sunday.

Visitors can try out traditional arts and crafts, eat Chinese cuisine from food and drink stalls and take a spin on funfair rides.

Faulkner Street will be home to a stage on Saturday and Sunday, when there’ll be performances from lion dancers, acrobats, singers and dancers, alongside poem readings and kung fu demonstrations.

The festivities draw to a close with a fireworks display on Sunday at 6pm.

Elsewhere across the city, red lanterns are back in the streets and a gleaming golden dragon will return to St Ann’s Square.

There’ll also be free, familyfriendly workshops and events at venues including Manchester Central Library, which hosts a special Sunday Funday from noon until 4pm.

The library is teaming up with the Confucius Institute of Manchester University and the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art to host arts and crafts activities and a tea ceremony workshop.

Over at Manchester Arndale’s Exchange Court, the Confucius Institute will also be giving families the chance to learn about the Chinese zodiac animals and make their own paper rat on Saturday, from 11am to 4pm.

On Sunday, from 11am to 3pm, families can join Manchester’s Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) and artist Joey Yu at the shopping centre to make their own paper dragons and mythical beasts.

More events can be found at visitmanchester.com/ chinesenewyear.