Where to Celebrate Lunar New Year in the North East and Yorkshire
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year and Spring Festival, is the most important holiday in China and will be celebrated across the world this week
Traditions vary between regions, but like all the best celebrations, they typically begin with families reuniting to share a traditional feast. Other traditions involve giving money to children in red envelopes, fireworks and the iconic lion dances that process through the streets. The Lunar New Year celebrations typically end with the Lantern Festival. The zodiac animals associated with each year also vary between countries, but largely coalesce around the Chinese zodiac, making this year the Year of the Dragon (or the mythical naga in Thailand).
There are plenty of events you can go to to celebrate the Lunar New Year across the North East and Yorkshire this year, and we’ve compiled a list of some of the bigger ones below.
Echoes of Spring: Year of the Snake
1st February
Temple Newsam, Leeds
Join Leeds Chinese Community School for a fun-packed day of free workshops, live performances, and cultural activities in the surroundings of Temple Newsam House. Have a go at traditional Chinese dance, or how about calligraphy and Chinese painting?
Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Celebration 2025
1st & 2nd February
Sheffield City Centre
Live performances, workshops, food traders and cultural activities will combine to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Sheffield, and 1,000 Chinese lanterns will light up the streets. Don’t miss the World Champion Foshan Lion Dance Troupe, travelling from Foshan in China to perform in Sheffield for the first time.
Newcastle’s Lunar New Year Celebrations 2025
2nd February
From Grey’s Monument, Newcastle
Newcastle will start their celebrations with the famous dragon and lion dance parade through the heart of the city centre, making its way through Blackett Street, Gallowgate and arriving at the Chinese Arch on Stowell Street at midday where guests will be treated to a 45-minute performance with lion and dragon dancers, martial arts display teams, traditional drummers and firecrackers.
2025 North East England Five Universities Chinese New Year Gala
3rd February
The Glasshouse, Gateshead
The largest and most influential Chinese New Year celebration in the region, this year’s gala hosted at The Glasshouse will feature breathtaking performances, traditional Chinese arts, pop songs, contemporary dances and laugh-out-loud skits. Such a diverse selection of performances means there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Lunar New Year
9th February
Sunniside Gardens, Sunderland
From dazzling dragon dances to creative workshops and performances and a variety of food and drink, Sunniside Gardens is hosting a celebratory event this Chinese New Year and you’re invited to dance your way into the Year of the Snake.
Lunar New Year Lantern Festival
12th February
Oriental Museum, Durham
For this year’s celebrations which are suitable for all ages, Durham’s Oriental Museum will be decorated with vibrant red lanterns and community-made decorations, and visitors can look forward to musical performances by Chinese Durham University students, dragon dancing, storytelling and snake-themed crafts.
