Liverpool set to celebrate Chinese New Year
EPALiverpool is set to celebrate Lunar New Year with a series of free events to mark the Year of the Snake.
Preparations are under way in the city's Chinatown, which is the oldest in Europe and twinned with Shanghai, with the main events taking place on Sunday.
Several roads will be closed for the celebrations which include traditional dragon, lion, unicorn parades, firecracker displays, Tai Chi demonstrations and live music.
Ming Wang of the Liverpool Chinese Business Association said the Year of the Snake signified good fortune, prosperity, fertility and longevity and invited people to "come join the celebrations".
EPAAs part of the city's Lunar New Year celebrations thousands of red lanterns have been installed across the city including Liverpool One and the Royal Albert Dock.
Liverpool Town Hall and St George's Hall have also lit up red in honour of the new year.
This year also marks 25 years since the iconic Chinese Arch was gifted to the city in 2000.
On Sunday, the dragon and lion parade will start at 11:30 GMT and finish at about 15:30.
The unicorn parade will start at 12:15 and finish at about 16:00.
Both parades will move through Nelson Street, Duke Street, Berry Street, Bold Street and meet in Great George Square at 13:00 for the firecracker display.
A full list of events taking place can be found here.
EPALiverpool City Council's cabinet member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, Harry Doyle, said it was an "exciting, free programme this year which has something for everyone".
"Whether it's the dynamic parade, engaging workshops, or beautiful installations - Liverpool will come alive with colour, culture, and creativity," he added.
Liverpool Chinese Business Association secretary General Ming Wang, said: "As we bid farewell to the Year of the Dragon, we welcome the Year of the Snake – a time which signifies good fortune, prosperity, fertility and longevity.
"This is a festival of sound, fun, colour and confetti with a packed diverse programme of free events for children and adults to enjoy.
"Please come and join the celebrations."
EPAThe following roads will be closed on Sunday from 06:00 to 22:00:
- Great George Street
- Duke Street
- Upper Duke Street
- Nelson Street
- Grenville Street
- South Sankey Street
- Griffiths Street
- Knight Street
- Bold Street
- Seel Street
- Berry Street
- Back Berry Street
- Bold Place
- Back Knight Street
- Cookson Street
- Pitt Street
- Upper Pitt Street
- York Street
- Raffles Street
- Roscoe Street
- Roscoe Lane
Grenville Street South, between Hardy Street and Nelson Street, and Upper Pitt Street will be closed from Friday evening until the end of the event.
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