Liverpool is set to welcome the Lunar New Year in style, with a series of vibrant free events and activities to mark the Year of the Snake.
The main Chinese New Year city centre celebrations will be held on Sunday 2 February in and around Europe’s oldest Chinatown.
The festivities will feature the traditional dragon, lion, unicorn parades, firecracker displays, family workshops, Tai Chi demonstrations, live music, street theatre and stage performances, a fairground and food and craft stalls. Plus this year there will be a special finale, courtesy of performers Bring the Fire.
Taking place from 11am to 5pm, the special event will also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the iconic Chinese Arch gifted to the city in 2000.
In the run up to the main celebrations, from next week (20 January) thousands of red lanterns will begin to adorn the city centre streets around Chinatown, Liverpool ONE and Royal Albert Dock Liverpool from the beginning of February, and a number of buildings, including Liverpool Town Hall and St George’s Hall, will be illuminated in red in honour of the new year.
On Saturday 25 January the Liverpool Hung Gar Kung Fu Friendship Association, Pagoda Arts and award-winning dance company Movema will lead a parade through the city centre, joined by members of the Chinese community and young people from In Harmony and the Shanghai Children’s Palace Orchestras. Incorporating a street theatre piece with colourful Beijing opera-style costumes and stilt walkers, the parade will start at midday on Church Street, leading on to Paradise Street in Liverpool ONE before heading to the Royal Albert Dock Liverpool.
Expect to see a stunning willow snake sculpture placed in the water feature near the Liverpool sign, commissioned by Liverpool ONE and created by artist Sarah Gallagher from Twigtwisters. The sign has also been decorated to mark the occasion, and the hearts located at Royal Albert Dock Liverpool will also get a Year of the Snake makeover.
A small number of family-friendly activity workshops and craft stalls will take place in Chinatown on Saturday 1 February. This programme will offer a quieter alternative to Sunday’s proceedings, without firecrackers and loud music performances, ensuring everyone can join in the fun.
Projections inspired by Chinese mythology and Liverpool’s cultural heritage will take over the Bombed Out Church (St Luke’s) on the evening of 1 and 2 February from 5.30-9pm. The work has been created by immersive projection experts Focal Studios in collaboration with Pagoda Arts and the local community. There will also be a number of family activities across the weekend at the location, as well as a vibrant wildflower art installation, created by volunteers and school children using upcycled plastic bottles.
Information about all the events and timings can be found at the Culture Liverpool website or on Culture Liverpool’s social media channels. #LNYLiverpool
The event is organised by Liverpool City Council’s Culture Liverpool team in partnership with the Liverpool Chinese Business Association, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Arts Council England with support from Royal Albert Dock Liverpool, Liverpool ONE and Liverpool BID Company.
Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Councillor Harry Doyle, said:
“This year’s celebrations are particularly special as we not only welcome the Year of the Snake, but also mark the 25th anniversary of the iconic and much-loved Chinese Arch.
“It’s an exciting, free, programme this year which has something for everyone, whether it’s the dynamic parade, engaging workshops, or beautiful installations – Liverpool will come alive with colour, culture, and creativity.
“This is one of the most popular events in our calendar, and we welcomed more than 20,000 people last year, as we look forward to coming together once again to celebrate our wonderful Chinese community.”
Secretary General of Liverpool Chinese Business Association, Ming Wang, said:
“As we bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon, we welcome the Year of the Snake – a time which signifies good fortune, prosperity, fertility and longevity.
“As always, our local Chinese community, Culture Liverpool, and other organisations have worked tirelessly together to arrange a series of arts and cultural events for everyone to enjoy.
“This is a festival of sound, fun, colour and confetti with a packed diverse programme of free events for children and adults to enjoy. Please come and join the celebrations.”
READ MORE: Liverpool Cathedral to shine bright with Luke Jerram’s Helios
