Chinese New Year in Manchester: Chinatown Celebrations

Shekina Rose, Families Editor
EDITORIAL USE ONLY Performer Kaiyuan Bao prepares to take part in the Dragon Parade as part of Manchester’s Chinese New Year Celebrations to welcome in the Year of the Rabbit. Picture date: Sunday January 22, 2023. PA Photo. This year’s celebrations, organised by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), in partnership with Manchester Business Improvement District (BID) and Manchester City Council, will also see a week long residency of traditional street food stalls in the city’s Piccadilly Gardens from today to Sunday January 29 and a final performance from an illuminated night dragon to close this year’s festivities next Sunday in Piccadilly Gardens. Photo credit should read: Fabio De Paola/PA Wire.
Chinese New Year Manchester.

1 — 2 February 2025 Entrance is free

The UK’s brightest Chinese New Year celebrations are returning to Manchester this February, as the city comes together to celebrate and welcome in the Year of the Snake. The Snake is a symbol of rebirth, wisdom, transformation, luck and authority in traditional Chinese culture.

The ultimate highlight of the Chinese New Year Celebrations in Manchester, The Dragon Parade, is taking place on Sunday 2 February. Crowds will gather to watch a 175ft Chinese dragon winding its way through the city’s shopping streets, accompanied in a procession of traditional lion and ribbon dancers, stunning Chinese opera performers, twelve spectacular Zodiac animals, and fascinating ancient army characters. The parade is a truly spectacular event packed with culture, and even better – it’s free!

Fabio De Paola/PA Wire

There will also be a live performance stage packed with shows, a delightful fun fair for the little ones, and delicious street food stalls for when you’re feeling peckish. You could also stop and have a bite to eat in one of the great restaurants that run along George Street, Nicholas Street and Faulkner Street.

Chinese New Year in Manchester is impossible to miss, with iconic red lanterns and golden ornaments dotted around Manchester in the lead-up to the big day of celebrations, illuminating the city’s streets and creating a buzz amongst Manchester residents and beyond.

All events on 1 February will run from 11am – 7pm.

1 — 2 February 2025 Entrance is free

Where to go near Chinese New Year in Manchester: Chinatown Celebrations

Carden Park
Cheshire
Hotel
Carden Park

Huge luxury estate, featuring high-end restaurant, beautiful rooms, a fully-packed spa and much more.

We sell comics, graphic novels, manga, role playing games, board games, collectible card games, merchandise, apparel and much more besides!
Leeds
Shop
Travelling Man Leeds

A quirky little shop for comics, graphic novels, role-playing and board games, with frequent in-store events.

Further North
Leeds
Bar or Pub
Further North

Kind of like your front room, but with better beers and no television, Further North was one of the first microbars to open in Leeds and remains a staple today.

Wax Bar
Leeds
Bar or Pub
Wax Bar and JukeJoint

The Wax Bar and JukeJoint is a trendy, funky new bar with an old school theme running right through the middle from the Americana jukebox, to the vinyl records and player, old-style radio, 1980s ghetto blasters acting, quite effectively, as bar shelves and the lampshades on the walls that have been made out of classic cassette tapes.

House of Fu Leeds
City Centre
Restaurant
House of Fu Leeds

A Japanese-inspired restaurant speciaising in ramen and handmade dumplings, with a karaoke cocktail bar and lounge upstairs.

GET BAKED Opening Day
Manchester
Café or Coffee Shop
GET BAKED

Newly opened cakery in Stevensons Square, Northern Quarter Manchester. Get Baked brings all the Yorkshire charm and sweetness one of the city’s most popular squares.

Discover Lotherton, a country estate, historic hall and Wildlife World zoo. Our Edwardian estate is truly a great place for a family day out, with plenty to keep children and grown ups entertained! The expansive grounds and gardens are lovely walking spots, with or without four-legged companions. Each season brings new surprises including wild garlic in the spring, a sea of colourful blooms in summer in the formal gardens and stunning autumnal colours later on in the year. We have two playgrounds which means there's plenty of space for running about and letting off steam, with zip wires for older children to enjoy. Our evolving zoo, Wildlife World, is a real highlight of any visit and we'd highly recommend popping by to see the Humboldt penguins splash and swim in their pool. Other colourful characters include Arthur the tapir, our resident porcupines and a flamboyance of pink flamingos. Stop in at the shop on your way to pick up your very own version of one of our Lotherton
Café or Coffee Shop
Lotherton Hall and Estate

A truly great place for a family day out, discover Lotherton, a country estate, historic hall and Wildlife World Zoo.

Winsome
Manchester
Restaurant
Winsome

Winsome delivers modern British food, cooked beautifully by chef-owner Shaun Moffat and his team.

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