| Manchester is expected to be even busier than usual this weekend (February 1 and 2) as the city welcomes the Year of the Snake.
A weekend full of activities, including the annual Chinese New Year Dragon Parade on Sunday, is taking place. |
| Already a sea of colour with trees decked out in traditional red lanterns in celebration of the Lunar New Year, visitors heading into the city centre this weekend are promised a dazzling display of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.
The weekend’s activities – organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) – will see Manchester’s Chinatown transformed into a festive wonderland with lanterns, music, food, and family-friendly activities. Anyone planning to come into Manchester and enjoy the activities is advised to use public transport and to travel as light as possible with no big bags, and to consider using back packs or other carriers for babies and toddlers as an alternative to pushchairs. Visitors should note that the busiest part of the weekend is likely to be from 12 noon to 2pm on Sunday when the Dragon Parade takes place. People coming in to see the parade should be aware that access into Chinatown may be restricted during this time in order to manage the number of people in the area, and they may be advised to enjoy the parade from elsewhere along the route instead. Chinatown visitors throughout the weekend will be able to enjoy a host of activities across the two days from 12 noon – 8 pm, including sampling a variety of delicious Chinese delicacies and authentic street food from local vendors. Mesmerising traditional dance and music performances will also be taking place on both Saturday and Sunday on the main stage in the Chinatown carpark. Other highlights include performances from the Guizhou Acrobatic Troupe at 2.45 pm and 3.45 pm on Sunday, and a DJ playing Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs from 8 pm – 10 pm on Saturday. FCAM’s famous Night Dragon will also be making appearances in the Chinatown carpark on Saturday at 6.30 pm and 7.30 pm, whilst Sunday will see the spectacular annual Dragon Parade take place, featuring a stunning traditional dragon, acrobatic performances, dancers and drummers. Starting from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street at 12 noon on Sunday, the Dragon Parade will make its way along Portland Street, into Chinatown, with a final performance on Princess Street. This year’s festivities will culminate on Sunday evening with the record-breaking Illuminated Dragon which will take to the streets of Chinatown from 6.30 pm, featuring members of the public recruited earlier in the day by organisers to help take part in dancing the dragon. Away from Chinatown, activities will also be taking place at Central Library throughout the weekend, with an afternoon of arts and crafts on Saturday from 1 – 4 pm and a Hanfu Show featuring traditional Chinese clothing. On Sunday, the Library will be throwing open its doors for the day to help even more families celebrate the Year of the Snake, with a fun-filled programme of dance and music performances, arts and crafts, face-painting, and much more. The day will begin with an unmissable Lion Dance outside the Library at 11 am before the Library opens its doors at 11.30 am for a day of activities which finish at 4 pm. A number of road closures will be in place over the weekend to allow the activities to take place. Road closuresChinatown From 5am Saturday 1 February to 11.59pm Sunday, February 2:
From 5am to 11.59pm Sunday, February 2:
Parade route From 10am to 3pm Sunday, February 2:
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Manchester welcomes Year of the Snake this weekend
