Manchester city centre will be welcoming in the Year of the Dog with a weekend packed full of fun and good fortune as it celebrates Chinese New Year 2018.

The celebrations, organised by Manchester’s Business Improvement District, (Manchester BID) on behalf of the city centre’s retailers, alongside the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) and Manchester City Council, will take place across the city over the weekend of Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 February.

Thousands of red lanterns will brighten the city’s shopping streets and this year’s festivities will see the popular return of 2017’s 50ft giant glittering Golden Dragon which will take centre stage in St Ann’s Square alongside a Chinese Food Market serving up festive dumplings, steamed buns, dim sum and more from some of the city’s finest names in Asian food and drink, including British Street Food Awards Winners Dim Sum SU.

Cultural venues across the city including HOME and the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) will be celebrating the best in Chinese contemporary film and art with exclusive screenings and exhibitions, while families can try out traditional Chinese crafts with the Confucius Institute and CFCCA at Manchester Arndale and enjoy live music and lion dancers at locations across the city including, Manchester Art Gallery and Central Library.

Manchester’s shops will be bringing good fortune to the event with giveaways, VIP shopping events and exclusive promotions throughout the weekend and on Sunday 18, red envelopes will be handed out at Metrolink’s Exchange Square stop with lucky passengers in with a chance of winning shopping vouchers worth up to £250!

On Sunday 18, Manchester’s legendary Dragon Parade led by by a spectacular 175-foot dragon will weave its way through the city’s streets from Manchester Town Hall to Chinatown, where revellers can enjoy lion dancing, martial arts displays, a funfair, over 60 food and arts & craft stalls and a spectacular fireworks finale at 6pm.

Jane Sharrocks, Chair of the Heart of Manchester BID (Business Improvement District) and General Manager at Selfridges Exchange Square, said:

“Manchester’s Chinese New Year celebrations are now one of the city’s most highly-anticipated annual events and with food markets, fireworks, family craft workshops, film festivals and more taking place across the city there really is something for everyone to enjoy this year.

“Extending the celebrations into the city’s retail core has proved a real draw for shoppers in recent years and this year more stores than ever before will be participating with a wealth of workshops, red envelope giveaways and promotions, bringing lots of good fortune to shoppers and city centre visitors!”

Lisa Yam, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM) said: “The annual Chinese New Year celebrations in Manchester are extremely important to the Chinese community in Manchester and the north west of England and are always very well attended and supported.

“This year’s celebrations are set to be the biggest and best ever and I hope everyone will be able to join us to welcome in the Year of the Dog.  

“I would like to say a big thank you to all FCAM’s partners and sponsors including Manchester BID, Manchester City Council, The Arts Council and Bank of China, Ernest Jones, Silver Hill Farm, Hainan Airlines and Red Chilli Restaurant for their continued hard work, effort and support.”

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