The Lunar New Year is set to be celebrated again in Wokingham on Sunday, March 1
Wokingham town council will be hosting performers, artists, east Asian street food traders and more, both locally and from across the south of England, to help celebrate in style.
The lion dance, one of the most important traditions at New Year, will be performed in Market Place alongside music, arts and crafts.
In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power,wisdom, and superiority. Their presence is reported to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.
On the stage timings (subject to change) for the day are:
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11am: Local Canton pop band 852X.
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12 noon and 2pm: We’ll be joined by the Pak-Mei UK Lion dance troupe who will be performing the renowned ion dance..
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1pm: Hong Kong Reading Singers and Hong Kong Reading junior singers..
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All performances are between 20 and 30 minutes in duration.
Throughout the day
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Wokingham Baptist Church Hongkongers will be offering traditional Chinese calligraphy, crafts and activities relating to the new year.
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Circus Scene will be teaching spinning plates and twirling cloths, and a group art project in the Town hall (numbers are limited inside due to fire regulations).
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Stalls selling Lunar New Year and east Asian inspired crafts.
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Street food including both sweet and savoury offerings will be available to purchase from: Krua Koson – Thai Food. Uncle E ltd – Hong Kong style cakes – Pineapple cake, Wife Cake, Cashew biscuits, Dim Sum, Jeong Cook – Authentic Korean Food, Dad is Cooking – Hong Kong food truck, Two Ten Bakery – Indonesian/pan Asian home made food, T-Men – fusion cooking, Chinese Dim Sun, Sen Ichie – Sushi..
Councillor Barrie Callender, chair of Wokingham town council’s Arts and Culture committee, said: ““We’re delighted to welcome the community to our Lunar New Year celebrations in Wokingham Market Place on Sunday, March 1st.
“With live music, traditional arts and crafts, delicious Asian street food, and of course the spectacular Lion Dance there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
“We hope families will join us in the heart of our historic town to learn about these rich cultural traditions and usher in good fortune for the year ahead. “
