Manchester celebrates Chinese New Year

Manchester continues to celebrate Chinese New Year today - with a weekend of activities that include the return of a legendary sight - the Dragon Parade.

The 175ft Chinese Dragon will be weaving its way through the city's streets today (11 February) amid a weekend of activities to celebrate the Year of the Dragon.

The Dragon will be accompanied by traditional lion and ribbon dancers, Chinese Opera performers, twelve Zodiac animals and Ancient Army characters, as well as singers, violinists, choir performances and Chengdu acrobats.

202\4 marks a new route for the parade, which starts with performances at midday at the Oxford Street and George Street junction.

The parade will then be making its way to Chinatown via Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street, ending in Chinatown - which will be celebrating Chinese New Year with a live performance stage, fun fair, Chinese arts and crafts workshops and a street food market from 12pm – 8pm, as well as an illuminated dragon finale at 6pm.

Yesterday, Chinatown featured live music performances, workshops and markets, street food stalls, and an illuminated dragon appearance at nightfall.

This year’s celebrations, organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and the city council, have also seen the city's streets and squares dressed with thousands of traditional red lanterns over the last few weeks in the run-up to Chinese New Year.

The timings for today's Dragon Parade (approximately)

• 12 noon - 12.30pm: Performances, Oxford Street
• 12.30pm- 1pm: Dragon Parade, Oxford Street to Chinatown
• 1pm: Dragon Parade, Arrives in Chinatown
• 1.10pm - 1.40pm: Performances, Faulkner Street Car Park, Chinatown
• 1.40pm: Dragon Leaves Chinatown
• 6 pm - Illuminated dragon finale

Manchester Central Library is also celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend with crafts, performances, workshops and activities.

Families are also being invited by Manchester Art Gallery by following a special trail around the gallery on the Dragon's Quest.

Some road closures and parking suspensions will be in place over the weekend to facilitate the Dragon Parade - these are:

Road closures China Town weekend road closures - 5am Saturday 10 February – 11.59pm Sunday 12 February

• Faulkner Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
• Reyner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
• St James’ Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
• Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
• George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
• Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
• Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
• Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
• Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)

Parade route road closures - 11am – 3pm Sunday 11 February

• Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
• Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street)
• Oxford Road (Oxford Street to Whitworth Street)
• Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
• Princess Street (Portland Street to Cooper Street)
• George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
• St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
• Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Princess Street)
• Faulkner Street (Princess Street to end)
• Dickenson Street (Back George Street to end)
• Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
• Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)

Some parking suspensions will be in operation all weekend; others will just be overnight on Saturday until Sunday afternoon.

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