Chester prepares for Chinese New Year celebration this weekend

Feb 11 2010 Chester Chronicle

Chester prepares for Chinese New Year celebration this weekend

THE Chinese New Year is this weekend and Cheshire West and Chester Council has helped a newly formed association with its exciting plans for the colourful celebrations.

Saturday will see a traditional Lion Dance through the centre of Chester, finishing with firecrackers at the Slow Boat Chinese Restaurant in Frodsham Street.

There will also be workshops to make Chinese paper crafts, a martial arts demonstration and food sampling to make sure that the Year of the Tiger makes a dramatic entrance across the city.

The Wah Lei Chinese Association is a new organisation in Cheshire, assisted by Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre (CHAWREC), and founded by local Chinese people to foster, support and improve the wellbeing of the Chinese community and help them integrate with the wider community.

Chinese New Year officially falls on Sunday, February 14 but the celebrations are being held on a Saturday to maximise the number of visitors.

Chair of the Wah Lei Chinese Association, Mia Tan, said: “We are officially launching the Wah Lei Association in the Chinese New Year celebrations and would love to hear from anyone who would like to get involved whether as a committee member, volunteer, donor or sponsor.

“In the future we’re planning to offer an advice service, as well as courses in languages and cultural or leisure activities such as sport, art or music.”

The council’s equality and diversity champion, Cllr Razia Daniels, added: “Cheshire West and Chester Council is delighted to sponsor the new Wah Lei Chinese Association and help with their wonderful Chinese New Year Celebrations.

“Equality and diversity is one of our key priorities and I hope as many people as possible will be able to join in the celebrations this year.”

The Lion Dance parade begins at The Cross at 11.30am and moves to the Town Hall Square for noon.

It will arrive at the Slow Boat restaurant at 12.45pm where the craft workshops will be held between 1pm and 3pm. Workshop participants will help to bring the event to a close by floating water lily lanterns on the Shropshire Union Canal at 3.15pm.