Liverpool to host Lunar New Year spectacular

Liverpool is set to welcome the Lunar New Year with a series of vibrant events across the city centre to mark the Year of the Horse - including music, street theatre and buildings lit up in red.

The main celebrations will be held on Sunday 22 February in and around Chinatown - home to the longest-standing Chinese community in Europe - with Saturday 21 February offering a smaller, quieter programme of events.

Activities will take place from 11:00 to 17:00 GMT on both days, featuring family workshops, Tai Chi, unique stage performances, a fairground, food and craft stalls,

There will also be firecracker displays and parades featuring traditional dragons, lions and unicorns on Sunday.

Leading up to the main celebrations, the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, Pagoda Arts and award-winning dance company Movema will lead a procession through the city centre on Saturday 14 February, joined by members of the Chinese community to showcase traditional costumes and performances.

It will start at 13:00 from Church Alley, on to Church Street, leading on to Paradise Street in Liverpool ONE before heading to the Royal Albert Dock.

Thousands of red lanterns will also adorn the streets around Chinatown, Liverpool ONE and the Royal Albert Dock from 14 February, while the town hall and St George's Hall will be illuminated red.

Two lantern centrepiece art installations - a horse and a pair of dragons - have also been commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, and Liverpool ONE for the celebrations.

More information on all events, including specific timings, can be found on the Culture Liverpool website.

Liverpool City Council's cabinet member for culture Harry Doyle said: "No city welcomes the Lunar New Year quite like Liverpool, and the city will once again come alive with colour, culture, and celebration as we enter the Year of the Horse.

"With free events, beautiful installations, quiet and accessible activities, and so much more – there really is something for everyone this year."

Ming Wang, secretary general of the Merseyside Chinese Association Joint Action Group, said: "As we turn the page from the Year of the Snake, we gallop joyfully into the vibrant Year of the Horse - a year bursting with strength, freedom, and spirited adventure.

"Our local Chinese community, Culture Liverpool, and many partner organisations have once again come together with great heart and dedication to create a dazzling programme of arts and cultural events for all to enjoy."

Royal Albert Dock estate manager Sean Morrison said: "From the incredible dragon installations to immersive projections on the Maritime Museum, this programme is a testament to the city's creative spirit."

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