This weekend, Manchester is commemorating the Year of the Dragon with a host of activities, one of which being the comeback of the fabled Dragon Parade that will traverse through the city streets on Sunday.
The event is highly popular and attracts thousands of attendees every year. The parade will feature a 175ft Chinese Dragon leading the way, along with traditional lion and ribbon dancers, Chinese Opera performers, twelve Zodiac animals, and Ancient Army characters. Additionally, there will be singers, violinists, choir performances, and Chengdu acrobats.
Performances will commence in a new route for 2024 at 12pm, starting from the junction of Oxford Street and George Street. The parade will then proceed towards Chinatown, taking the route via Portland Street, Princess Street and Faulkner Street, eventually concluding in Chinatown. There will be a live performance stage, fun fair, Chinese arts and crafts workshops, and a street food market in Chinatown, celebrating Chinese New Year from 12pm to 8pm. An illuminated dragon finale will also take place at 6pm.
Live music performances, workshops and markets, street food stalls, and an illuminated dragon appearance at nightfall are all part of the festivities happening in Chinatown today, Saturday 10 February from noon until 10pm. Join in on the celebrations!
The Federation of Chinese Associations of Manchester (FCAM), along with Manchester City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and the city council, has organized this year’s festivities for Chinese New Year. In anticipation of the event, the streets and squares of the city have been adorned with thousands of traditional red lanterns over the past few weeks.
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.
This weekend, Manchester Central Library is hosting a celebration of Chinese New Year. Families can enjoy a variety of free activities, workshops, performances, and crafts. On Saturday, starting from 2pm, there will be musical and dance entertainment followed by traditional Chinese crafts until 4pm. On Sunday, activities will take place from 12 noon until 4pm.
Manchester Art Gallery is inviting families to celebrate Chinese New Year this Sunday from 11 am until 3:30 pm. Families can participate in a special trail around the gallery called the Dragon’s Quest. Upon completing the quest, families can claim a free sticker. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year!
To ensure the smooth running of the Dragon Parade and the festivities in China Town, several road closures and parking suspensions will be in place over the weekend. The parade will start at Oxford Street and proceed along Portland Street, Princess Street, and Faulkner Street before reaching its destination in China Town. The celebrations will take place 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.
