Celebrate Lunar New Year with us at the riverfront
The Dragons Are Coming! - A Spectacular Lunar New Year Celebration 喜迎新春「賀龍年」
Get ready for a journey into the heart of the Lunar New Year "The Dragons Are Coming!" –join us on Saturday 10th February for a day filled with performances, workshops and activities celebrating the spirit of the Lunar New Year.
Come along to Friars Walk at 10am for Lion dance plus parade. From 11am - 5pm, The Riverfront Theatre & Arts Centre will host workshops, demonstrations, performances and much more.
This is a free event with no booking required. Please come and go as you please and enjoy the family fun!
Explore the exciting schedule for our upcoming Lunar New Year 2023 celebration! Delve into the event timetable to discover the fantastic lineup of performers, and how you can get involved in the procession with your own crafts!
Mark your calendars, gather your friends and family, and immerse yourself in our vibrant Lunar New Year celebration. This is not just an event; it's a celebration where everyone can come together to welcome the new year with joy and unity. Don't miss out on the chance to be a part of something truly special!
The entire event is free and held in partnership with Newport City Council, the Riverfront Theatre and the Newport Chinese Community Centre. It has been made possible with funding from the UK government's shared prosperity fund via Newport City Council.
EVENT TIMETABLE
what to expect
Family Lion Dancers (10am)
The lion dance has been a feature of celebrations and festivities In China (and most of Asia) for hundreds of years. It brings joy and wonder wherever it goes. Traditionally used to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck.
Shadow Puppetry Workshop (11am - 4pm)
Unveil the ancient art of shadow puppetry, creating your own magical tales against the canvas of light and shadows.
Chinese Tea Ceremony Workshop (11am - 4pm)
Immerse yourself in the elegance of Chinese tea culture as you learn the art of brewing and savoring traditional teas.
Calligraphy Station (11am - 4pm)
Craft your own Chinese New Year greetings with the guidance of skilled calligrapher.
Paper Cutting Corner (11am - 4pm)
Explore the intricate art of paper cutting, shaping Chinese words, greetings, and lanterns with precision.
Family Crafts (11am - 4pm)
Free Creative crafts for the young and young at heart. Make a lantern, create a dragon and lots more!
Hummadruz Dragons (11am-4pm)
Join Hummadruz, the Black-Light Theatre of Wales in celebrating Chinese New Year as we release our Welsh Dragons to dance and play with you during the Parade!
When we arrive at the Riverfront, visit us in the dance studio for a lively multi-coloured glow-in-the-dark workshop! Using specialist paints, cardboard boxes and our imaginations, we'll make glowing shadow puppets - all the Dragons you can think of... Lions, Tigers, Bears! Drop in as a family and bring your friends!
Draco Duo (2:45pm)
This performance will feature well-known Cantopop songs and traditional Chinese New Year music arranged by the Draco Duo. In 2020, George Owen and Mandy Leung formed the Duo to promote original arrangements and compositions for cello and piano. George and Mandy are both emerging composers based in Wales, whose music has been performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and Radio Cymru.
Dramatic Fire Sculpture (5pm)
As the Lunar New Year festivities reach their grand finale, a dramatic fire sculpture illuminates the night sky, symbolising the triumphant conclusion of a joyous celebration.
Free Cinema Screening (5pm)
In Disney's Turning Red, Mei Lee is a confident, dorky thirteen-year-old torn between staying her mother's dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. And as if changes to her interests, relationships, and body weren't enough, whenever she gets too excited (which for a teenager is practically ALWAYS), she "poofs" into a giant red panda!
how to get involved
Don't forget to wear your best red attire or transform into a dragon for this fun family parade. Or why not, create your own dragon or lantern to bring along!
Follow the BBC's 'How to' Pack to create your own lantern, paper cuts and shadow puppet show here!
Download and colour in one of our five Lunar New Year templates, created by Gary Yeung.
