Planning is underway for a spectacular Lunar New Year celebration and a lion dance parade in Newcastle city centre on 2 February
Newcastle will celebrate with festivities, starting with the famous dragon and lion dance parade through the heart of the city. There will be drummers and dancers helping ring in the Lunar New Year – the Year of the Snake.
The celebrations will start at Grey’s Monument at 11.30 am with the procession making its way through Blackett Street, Gallowgate and arriving at the Chinese Arch on Stowell Street at midday.
In the shadow of the Chinese Arch, spectators and VIP guests will see a loud and colourful 45-minute performance with lion and dragon dancers, martial arts display teams from the Choy Lee Fut Kung Fu, Lion and Dragon Club, and traditional drummers and firecrackers providing a musical backdrop.
It’s all about the parade…
The parade and performances will include 11 different community and school groups, each showcasing traditional Chinese arts, dances, and displays. Among the participants are a local school and a scout troupe. They will parade with 6ft snakes created by pupils and cubs.
Students from the Mandarin-speaking Chinese school in Jesmond will play drums while a team from the Cantonese-speaking Chinese School in Heaton will demonstrate traditional lion and dragon displays.
Other highlights include a Tai Chi performance with dancers dressed in traditional costumes and a re-enactment of a celebratory rowing dance, historically performed in Chinese fishing villages during festive occasions.
At the end of the display, the lion and dragon dancers will visit all the restaurants on Stowell Street. This is a traditional ceremony bringing good luck and fortune to venues.
Lunar New Year in Newcastle – One for foodies
Local food vendors will line Bath Lane from 11am, selling food and refreshments. Families can also enjoy fairground rides and an arts and crafts tent.
Cllr Abdul Samad, Newcastle City Council Cabinet Member for Culture, Music and Arts said:
“Newcastle is proud to host the Lunar New Year festivities as a vibrant testament to our city’s rich cultural diversity. These celebrations are not just about ringing in the Year of the Snake. They’re also about embracing and honouring the various cultures that make up our great community.
“We warmly invite everyone to come into the city and join in the joyous occasion, supporting local businesses and immersing themselves in the colourful and captivating traditions of Lunar New Year. Let’s celebrate our diversity and make this a truly unforgettable event.”
Ben Whitfield Director of Communications at NE1 Ltd said:
“We have loved working with the North East Chinese community in Newcastle to organise this year’s Lunar New Year celebrations. Starting the parade at the Monument brings the festivities right into the heart of the city, creating a lively and colourful spectacle for thousands to enjoy. We’re excited to see the celebrations return this year and look forward to an even larger turnout. Enjoy the celebrations – Kung Hei Fat Choi!”
Yvonne Ng, a member of the Chinese Festivities Group, the group that organises the event, said:
“Lunar New Year is a hugely important festival in the Chinese calendar. We are delighted that Newcastle embraces the traditions and supports the festivities. We urge everyone to come into the city to experience the delights of traditional Lunar New Year celebrations in all their loud, colourful and fire-cracking glory. The drummers and dragon dancers are a spectacle to behold and shouldn’t be missed. Everyone is welcome.”