Manchester is welcoming in the Year of the Dragon this weekend
Manchester is celebrating the Year of the Dragon this weekend with a weekend of activities that include the return of the legendary Dragon Parade that will weave its way through the city streets on Sunday.
Always a winner with the thousands of people who turn out each year for the event, the parade will once again be headed up by a 175ft 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, ending in Chinatown - which will be celebrating Chinese New Year with 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.
Celebrations are also taking place in Chinatown today Saturday 10 February from noon – 10pm, featuring live music performances, workshops and markets, street food stalls, and an illuminated dragon appearance at nightfall.
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 the city council, have also seen the city's streets and squares dressed with thousands of traditional red lanterns over the last few weeks in the run-up to Chinese New Year.
For anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of the Dragon tomorrow, the timings are as follows:
12 noon - 12.30pm: Performances, Oxford Street
12.30pm- 1pm: Dragon Parade, Oxford Street to Chinatown
1pm: Dragon Parade, Arrives in Chinatown
1.10pm - 1.40pm: Performances, Faulkner Street Car Park, Chinatown
1.40pm: Dragon Leaves Chinatown
6 pm - Illuminated dragon finale
*Please note, all timings are approximate.
Manchester Central Library is also celebrating Chinese New Year this weekend with crafts, performances, workshops and activities - all with a family focus and free of charge. Saturday sees dance and musical entertainment at 2 pm followed by traditional Chinese crafts until 4 pm and on Sunday activities will take place from 12 noon to 4 pm.
Families are also being invited by Manchester Art Gallery to join them on Sunday from 11 am - 3:30 pm in celebrating Chinese New Year by following a special trail around the gallery on the Dragon's Quest. Complete the quest and claim a free sticker!
Some road closures and parking suspensions will be in place over the weekend to facilitate the Dragon Parade as it makes its way from Oxford Street along Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street to China Town, as well as celebrations in the car park and surrounding streets of China Town.
Details below:
Road closures
China Town weekend road closures
5am Saturday 10 February – 11.59pm Sunday 12 February
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
Reyner Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
St James’ Street (Princess Street to Charlotte Street)
Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
George Street (Princess Street to New York Street)
Chain Street (George Street to Faulkner Street)
Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Charlotte Street)
Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
Pine Street (Chain Street to New York Street)
Parade route road closures
11am – 3pm Sunday 11 February
Peter Street (Mount Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Oxford Street (Peter Street to Portland Street)
Oxford Road (Oxford Street to Whitworth Street)
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to Chorlton Street)
Princess Street (Portland Street to Cooper Street)
George Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Princess Street)
Back George Street (Dickenson Street to Princess Street)
Faulkner Street (Princess Street to end)
Dickenson Street (Back George Street to end)
Bale Street (Hall Street to Lower Mosley Street)
Hall Street (Bale Street to Oxford Street)
Parking
Some parking suspensions will be in operation all weekend; others will just be overnight on Saturday until Sunday afternoon.
Full weekend suspensions
From 9am on Friday 9 February through to 11.59pm on Sunday 12 February
China Town Car Park (All bays)
George Street (New York Street to Dickenson Street)
Nicholas Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
Faulkner Street (New York Street to Princess Street)
Charlotte Street (Portland Street to Mosley Street)
Princess Street (Cooper Street to Hartner Street)
Parade suspensions
From 8pm Saturday 11 February through to 4pm on Sunday 12 February:
Peter Street (Mount Street – Lower Mosley Street)
Mount Street (Windmill Street to Albert Square)
Oxford Street (Lower Mosley Street to Chepstow Street)
Hall Street (Oxford Street to end)
George Street (Oxford Street to Dickenson Street)
St James Street (Oxford Street to Charlotte Street)
Oxford Road (Chepstow Street to Whitworth Street W)
Chepstow Street- Oxford Road to Great Bridgewater Street
Portland Street (Chepstow Street to New York Street)
Dickenson Street (Back George Street – Portland Street and Portland Street to dead end)
Metrolink
There won't be any suspensions to tram services but there might be slight delays.