Watch as Newcastle celebrates Chinese New Year with city centre parade

Hundreds of North East residents braved the cold and wet conditions to celebrate Chinese New Year at Newcastle's parade on Sunday, February 11.

Starting at Grey's Monument and working its way to Chinatown, the parade offered a bolt of colour and joy to a drab Sunday lunchtime.

Food stalls and sellers were also set up around Bath Lane in Chinatown serving Chinese food and selling arts, crafts and produce.

The highlight of the celebrations came from the traditional, lively and musical dragon dance parade with drummers and dancers symbolically chasing away evil spirits, creating excitement and signalling good luck and fortune for the coming year.

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, more specifically the Wood Dragon, one of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon symbolizes good luck, power and strength and is the only mythical creature in the Chinese Zodiac.

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Ben Whitfield, Director of Communications at NE1 Ltd said: “We are proud to be working with Newcastle City Council to sponsor the Lunar New Year celebrations again this year and are excited to expand the celebrations and bring them back into the heart of the city for the first time since Covid. More people will be able to get involved and enjoy the festivities.

"It is a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity of our great city, to promote Newcastle’s Chinatown, one of only 8 major Chinatowns in the UK, and to ring in the Lunar New Year.”

“We would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year, or Kung Hei Fat Choi."

Cllr Alex Hay, Cabinet Member for a Thriving City said: “Lunar New Year has always been a highlight in Newcastle’s calendar. The celebrations that take place to mark the New Year offer an opportunity to experience this wonderful and colourful tradition and celebrate the rich culture of one of our city’s most established communities."