In 2012, cities and towns all over the UK welcome the Year of the Dragon on or near January 27. Here's the rundown:
- Birmingham Sunday, January 29, loads of free events at The Arcadian in the Chinese Quarter from 12 noon until 4.30pm. Chinese Acrobats, singing, the Chinese Dragon Dance and Martial Arts. Hurst Street will be pedestrianised for the day. At least 20,000 people turn out for all the free events. Find more at the Birmingham Chinese New Year website.
- Cardiff Family Film Club at the National Museum Cardiff hosts McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong The latest in the popular film series about a Hong Kong pig. It's free, on Saturday, January 28.
- Chatham, Kent A small town but a big party. The third largest Chinese festival in the UK. In 2012, The Year of the Dragon will be doubly welcomed. On Saturday, January 21, the Chatham High Street will be full of entertainers, dragon dancers, food and craft stalls from 11:30 to 2 p.m. Sunday, January 22, the Medway Chinese New Year Parade sets off from Military Road at noon. The "Wonderful China Show" at The Central Theatre Chatham rounds off the day at 2:30p.m.
- Liverpool Did you know that Liverpool's Chinese Arch is the largest outside of China? As always, the arch, on Nelson Street, is where the oldest Chinese community in Europe celebrates. In 2012, plan on being there at 11 a.m. or at 4 p.m. on January 22.
- London, Trafalgar Square Traditionally, the London Chinatown Association celebrates on the first Sunday after Chinese New Year. That's January 29 in 2012, the Year of the Dragon. Events kick off with a grand parade along the Strand, Charing Cross Road and Shaftsbury Avenue, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by Trafalgar Square festivities from noon to 6 p.m. International artists, both Chinese and Western opera, and a firecracker demonstration over Leicestser Square that promises to be deafening.
- Manchester goes all out with Chinatown Celebrations. From January 10 to 28, The Chinese Arts Centre will exhibit a Chinese Wishing Tree in celebration of the holiday along with a family-friendly Chinese New Year Workshop on January 21. The main Chinese New Year Festivities, including Dragon and Lion Dances, Kung Fu demonstrations, folk dance performances, fireworks and A spectacular Golden Dragon Parade kick off at 11 a.m. January 29 in Chinatown and Albert Square and continue until 7p.m.
- Newcastle spends four days celebrating Chinese New Year with special events and activities for the whole family, culminating on January 29 in 2012. Parades, firecrackers, banquets and Chinese acrobats are all scheduled. Find details here
- Nottingham really goes to town for Chinese New Year, with events taking place in Broxtowe, Gedling, Rushcliffe and at Lakeside Arts Centre. It culminates in a spectacular fireworks show, from 5 p.m. to 6:30p.m., January 29 at Highfield Park. Check out the Brochure for the full schedule, that begins in January 5 and continues through most of the month.
- Sheffield Festive stalls, chinese food and a Chinese New Year Show, 5 to 9:p.m. at Sheffield City Hall, January 23, 2012. Admission charged.
- Southampton Chinese New Year will be protected from the weather in 2012 with Lion Dancers, traditional folk dancing, martial arts display, Chinese musical instrument playing, an all female choir singing traditional New Year songs and a Dragon Dance parade taking place inside the West Quay Shopping Centre from 11:30a.m. on January 29. A Chinese New Year Market outside West Quay starts on January 28 and continues through the 29th.
