Manchester’s Dragon Parade is confirmed to return as the city is set to celebrate Chinese New Year this weekend.
It is the Year of the Dragon and Manchester will see its legendary Dragon Parade take to the streets with a brand new route to ring in the new year on the Chinese calendar.
Chinese New Year is the annual commemoration of the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar and is a spectacular festival of lanterns, performances and food.
Manchester’s iconic Dragon Parade will take place on Sunday, February 11th featuring a 175 ft Chinese Dragon, 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.
In a new route for 2024, performances will begin at 12pm at the Oxford Street and George Street junction, before the parade makes its way to Chinatown via Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street, concluding in Chinatown.
In Chinatown, there will be 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.
The legendary parade attracts thousands of visitors from near and far to the city each year as they come together and celebrate this traditional Chinese custom.
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 Manchester City Council – will also see the return of thousands of traditional red lanterns to brighten the city’s streets in the run-up to the event.
Lisa Yam, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester said: “We’re thrilled to host our 33rd Chinese New Year celebrations in Manchester City Centre.
“For the first time, we are hosting a two-day celebration in Chinatown, and we hope this will give even more people the opportunity to experience the atmosphere, and of course, sample the delicious street food that will be on offer at this special festival.”
The event is free to attend and families are welcome.
This year there will also be celebrations in Chinatown on Saturday, February 10th from 12pm – 10pm, featuring live music performances, workshops and markets, and an illuminated dragon appearance at nightfall.
The Dragon Parade will take place on Sunday, February 11th around the city centre, with performances and food and drink stalls from 12pm onwards in Chinatown.
Get in the festive spirit with a brand new FREE Christmas makers night market, with over 40 traders and small businesses from across the region. Brought to you by Renaker, the Manchester Made Christmas night market is coming to New Jackson, Deansgate Square from Friday December 6th to Sunday December 8th.
Following on from a successful summer market in May, the Manchester Made Market is returning bigger and better than before but with a Christmassy twist.
Manchester Made Market
Expect a ‘cosy and magical’ Christmas night market experience, with food, drink, live music and even a grotto for visits to Father Christmas. There’ll be Christmas trees galore, glittering with lighting, with one huge show-stopping tree taking centre stage.
Bringing together over 40 artisanal traders and small businesses from across the region, the three-day event will showcase a plethora of food produce, homewares, crafts and creations.
Manchester Made Market
Visitors will be sure to find unique Christmas gifts that support local businesses, including from The Cole Men and their award winning sauces, Moon & Sixpence’s handmade jewellery, and fine art photography by Craig Barker.
There’ll be live music from a 20-piece choir, playing Christmas classics, cocktails from Manchester Gin and Gooey’s sweet treats. The experts from Millington Hall Farm in Altrincham will be bringing a taste of their Wild Grill experience, including live sausage making demonstrations and an array of German sausages served from a festive BBQ trailer.
Manchester Made Market
Families with children can visit the Christmas grotto, where Father Christmas himself will be waiting in a cosy tipi – kids will get a gift from Santa, and bookings can be made online for £8.50 per child.
Manchester Made Market will be open from 4pm to 9pm on Friday December 6th, and 1pm to 9pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th – pre-register for a free guest list ticket and 50% off a hot chocolate HERE, or book the Christmas grotto HERE.
Stockport’s free, one-day Christmas festival is returning this festive season, with 200 performers and more than 50 shows.
Spectacular Sunday will return to the town on November 17th at various sites and venues.
Following the success of last year’s event, hundreds of performers will take over Stockport, with everything from giant roller-skating presents to a living snow globe and roaming Christmas dolls.
There will also be street theatre, including grumpy Christmas grandads, a gigantic balloon man and water show.
Matthew Nichol Photography
Produced by carnival arts organisation Global Grooves and organised by Stockport Council, Totally Stockport, Merseyway and Stockport Market, the town centre will be buzzing with Christmas excitement. Events will be happening in iconic Stockport locations like Market Place, Underbanks, Merseyway, Redrock and Suffragette Square.
A grand finale in Merseyway will bring together the brass bands of Stockport, ending the day with a huge flash mob and rendition of All You Need Is Love.
Cirq Delight
Cllr Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Sport, said: “We’re so excited to bring this event back after last year’s amazing success.
“It’s such a fun way to get everyone in the festive spirit and really shows off what makes Stockport special – our sense of community and joy.
“With loads of free performances and activities, plus a chance to enjoy the newly improved areas of Merseyway, it’s a perfect day out for families.
“Stockport’s Spectacular Sunday is all about having fun, making memories, and starting the holiday season in style.” Spectacular Sunday is happening from 11am to 5pm on Sunday November 17th – find out more HERE.
The prestigious Manchester Art Fair is back in town for its 16th year next month, bringing with it a vibrant gallery space showcasing thousands of works from over 500 artists.
One of the biggest and most significant events in the UK art world calendar, it’ll take over Manchester Central for three days, from Friday November 15th to 17th.
The city will be flooded with art from all corners of the world, championing everything from local heroes to new emerging talent, as well as international artists with worldwide acclaim.
Manchester Art Fair
A wide range of artistic disciplines will be represented at the event, from painters, illustrators, and sculptors to graffiti artists and everything in between.
Expect exhibitions, workshops, Q&A sessions, demos, book signings and parties happening across the event.
Tickets include free access to art workshops and talks from leading artists and cultural experts, and are on sale now.