Manchester is going all out this weekend to welcome in the Year of the Horse and to celebrate Lunar New Year with activities happening across the city centre, including a special Lunar New Year market, free activities for families at Manchester Central Library and Manchester Art Gallery, and of course the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown including its stunning dragon parade.
Manchester Central Library is throwing open its doors for the weekend, opening on both Saturday and Sunday with a host of activities for children and families throughout the weekend as the library welcomes in the Year of the Horse in epic fashion. Families are invited to join in with a host of hands-on cultural activities and fun learning experiences across the weekend, plus music and traditional dance performances – details below:
Saturday 14 Feb (12 noon – 4 pm)
Families, children, schools, and community members are warmly invited to join us for performances, hands-on cultural activities, and fun learning experiences provided by Bowen Education, Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music, Confucius Institute, Manchester Chinese Centre, and more!
12 – 12:15pm: Short live performance
12 – 4pm: Crafts Free arts and crafts workshops for children including:Children’s artwork displaySpecial exhibition of student creations for Chinese New YearHanfu photo booth
Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station – have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy
Sunday 15 Feb (11 am – 4 pm)
11 – 11:30am (on St Peter’s Square): Lion dance performance!
11:30am: Central Library doors open
Central Library Performance Space (Ground Floor)
12 – 1:30pm: Stage performances by local schools and community groups – including dance, music, and other creative interpretations of Chinese culture and traditions
2 – 4pm: Performances and Workshops for Children with Manchester Chinese Centre
Central Library Ground Floor (near café)
12 – 4:00pm Cake decorating with Sarah Cook Stars
Central Library Lower Ground Floor
12 – 4pm: Family Craft Workshops with Central Library, Manchester Chinese Centre and Chinese Music Classroom at Chetham’s School of Music
Celebrate the Year of the Horse with local artists Caroline Coates, Mandy Cleveland, and friends! Expect lantern making, paper horses, and much, much more.
12 – 2pm: Bracelet making with Confucius Institute
2 – 4pm: Crafts
Free arts and crafts workshops for children
Children’s artwork display
Special exhibition of student creations for Chinese New Year
Hanfu photo booth
Try on traditional Chinese costumes and take photos
Chinese calligraphy station – have your name written in Chinese brush calligraphy.
The library is also offering a quiet space away from the crowds from 11:30 am – 4 pm in the first floor Music Library, for anyone who needs it.
Over at Manchester Art Gallery everyone is invited on Saturday and Sunday to celebrate the Year of the Horse with a fun, creative family drawing trail. Pick up a sketchbook and pencil, then set off to explore the gallery on a special horse-themed trail.
Track down a series of colourful posters, enjoy creative drawing activities inspired by our art collection, and bring the trail to life with your own drawings. Show your sketches to a staff member at the end to claim your reward! The art gallery will be open between 11 am and 3 pm on both days.
Market lovers also won’t want to miss the fantastic Hong Kong Lunar New Year Market which returns to the city on 14–15 February, transforming Market Street, Exchange Square and New Cathedral Street into a vibrant celebration of Hong Kong culture.
Now in its third year, the free, family-friendly event features 130+ stalls, 20+ live performances, community-made decorations and games, Hong Kong independent short film screenings, and free guided tours for newcomers and first-time visitors.
Highlights include Cantonese opera, Chinese instrumental music, dance and band performances, lion dances with a traditional eye-dotting ceremony, Hong Kong film–themed game stalls, and a large bamboo wishing installation where visitors can share New Year blessings.
The market is free to attend and takes place on both Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 February.
And of course Lunar New Year in Manchester wouldn’t be complete without the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations in the city’s Chinatown, including the spectacular Dragon Parade through the city streets.
