Chinese New Year February 9, 2008

Chinese New Year is the biggest festival of the year in Chinese communities. As it is based on the lunar and solar calendars, the date varies from late January to mid-February.

In 2008 the Chinese New Year festival and parade in central London, celebrating the start of the Year of the Rat, will take place on Sunday 10 February.

A colourful parade (route here will start at 11am in the Strand and will go along Charing Cross Road and Shaftesbury Avenue.

In Trafalgar Square from 12 noon until 6pm there will be entertainment for all the family. You will be able to see dazzling dragon and lion dances and the best of traditional and contemporary Chinese arts, with performers from both London and China.

There will be fireworks displays in Leicester Square, plus cultural stalls, food, decorations and lion dance displays throughout the day in Chinatown.

This annual event is organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association.

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Official Website: http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor/chinese_ny/index.jsp