Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year 2018 takes place on 16 February and Leeds is getting into the spirit with a host of activities and festivities taking place across the city.

We may have just celebrated our own New Year, but there’s another one just around the corner. The Chinese New Year is widely celebrated all over the world, and Leeds will be no different, with a range of events taking place to help you get into the spirit of the occasion, including parades, workshops and exhibitions.

Chinese New Year Festival

The Leeds Chinese Community Association will make Leeds Town Hall a vibrant venue for the Chinese New Year. On Sunday 18 February, the Town Hall will be transformed with dancing, music, calligraphy, tai chi and kung fu to celebrate the Year of the Dog. There’ll also be stalls featuring food, crafts, beauty and face painting - there’s something for the whole family.

Standard tickets cost £5 and concession cost £3, book here.

Chinese New Year Festival 2018 takes place in at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday 18 February 2018.

Rhythm of China

The Leeds Chinese Community School will introduce you to a traditional orchestra this Chinese New Year. The 60-piece Chinese Traditional Music Orchestra is coming all the way from Guangzhou in the Guangdong province to play for us. The event will display authentic Chinese music, song, dance and culture, as well as celebrating the diversity of Chinese and Western music. They’ll be joined by local artists and youth music groups who will also perform on the evening.

Tickets cost £6 and you can book tickets online or call 0113 376 0318.

Rhythm of China takes place at Leeds Town Hall on Monday 5 February 2018.

Happy New Year of the Dog!

Leeds City Museum has put together a programme for the Chinese New Year. For four days, you can drop in to take part in a series of events inspired by the Chinese Zodiac. They’ve got traditional lion and dog dancing, a Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt, banana carving, face-painting and all kinds of crafty activities to try out across the week.

Happy New Year of the Dog! takes over Leeds City Museum from 10am to 12pm and 1pm and 3pm, from Tuesday 13th to Friday 18th February 2018.

Year of The Dog – Creative Tuesday

After the huge success of their first Chinese New Year event last year, Thwaite Mills is bringing it back for 2018. Their Creative Tuesday will take inspiration from the Year of the Dog, so you can get into the spirit of the Chinese New Year with series of craft activities. The best bit? You can take your creations home.

Year of The Dog – Creative Tuesday takes over Thwaite Mills on Tuesday 13th February 2018.

Chinese New Year Gala

The Leeds Chinese Students and Scholars Association will join forces with the University of Leeds Business Confucius Institute to host a very special Chinese New Year Gala at Leeds Town Hall. The aim is to create a sense of familiarity and warmth for Chinese people in Leeds, while giving us all a chance to explore Chinese culture. Expect lion dancing, jujitsu, music and competitions throughout the evening.

Chinese New Year Gala is at Leeds Town Hall from 6.30pm on Wednesday 14th February 2018. Tickets start from £8 and are available now.