Events marking the start of the Chinese New Year will be taking place in the city this weekend – and there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Pig.
The city’s New Walk Museum will host a free event on Saturday (9 February), with an impressive line-up of traditional Chinese live music, dance, martial arts and craft workshops that all the family will enjoy.
There will be story-telling and puppet shows, as well as the chance to learn calligraphy and paper cutting skills – while a stage programme in the Victorian Art Gallery will include a traditional Chinese band, contemporary Chinese pop music, demonstrations of Taiji boxing, and a screening of ‘Made in China’ – a documentary about the Chinese community in Leicester.
There will also be the chance to play traditional Chinese games and sample authentic Chinese food, courtesy of the Confucius Institute.
Organised by Cosmopolitan Arts, the event at New Walk Museum runs from 11am to 4pm on Saturday.
From 5.15pm on Saturday, the focus switches to Leicester’s new market square, where a spectacular light and laser show will celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year.
East meets West in a specially-created sound track that will accompany the light show – and there will also be performances of the traditional lion and dragon dance.
Deputy City Mayor Cllr Piara Singh Clair said: “The city council is pleased to support this programme of events that celebrates the start of the Chinese New Year.
“Our partners at Cosmopolitan Arts have been working closely with the local Chinese community to come up with some great events that are free for everyone to enjoy.
“Pop along to New Walk Museum on Saturday and join the celebrations to mark the start of the Year of the Pig.”
The programme of events to celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year is presented by Cosmopolitan Arts with support from Leicester City Council, Arts Council England, De Montfort University and the Leicestershire & Rutland Community Foundation.
More information about all the events is available at cosmopolitanarts.wordpress.com/
