A BOROUGH town will be celebrating Chinese New Year with traditional entertainment and refreshments.
Lunar New Year celebrations in Wokingham draw on the talents of performers and artists both locally, and from the South of England.
Performances will include a Lion Dance, traditional Chinese music and dance, Kung Fu, cultural arts and crafts, and Asian food and drink.
Councillor Barrie Callender, chair of Wokingham Town Council’s Arts and Culture Committee, said: “It’s a privilege to host a Lunar New Year Celebration here in Wokingham. “The vibrancy and animated storytelling of the Lion Dance, alongside Asian dance, music, Kung Fu and street food, provide a wonderful insight into East Asian culture, and bring residents from across the town together.”
At 11.30am, 12.30pm, and 1.30pm:
Visitors can enjoy traditional Chinese music and dance, featuring Wan Ying playing stringed instrument, or erhu, Zhenyan Li on a traditional bamboo flute, or zhi, and dancer Jasmine Lam.
At 1pm:
Pak-Mei UK will demonstrate the art of Kung Fu.
At noon, and at 2pm:
Pak-Mei UK Lion Dance Troupe will perform the Lion Dance.
There will be two opportunities to enjoy this presentation, one of the most important traditions of the season.
In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority – it is said to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.
Throughout the day:
Reading Hongkongers Community Interest Company (CIC) will run games and activities relating to Hong Kong and British Culture.
Wokingham Baptist Church will offer traditional crafts and activities.
And Wokingham organisation, Morearts, will be making dragon puppets to celebrate the coming Year of The Dragon.
Sweet and savoury traditional food, and drink, will be available to purchase.
Krua Koson will offer Thai Food, and Uncle E Ltd will serve Hong Kong style cakes, including pineapple cake, wife cake, cashew biscuits, and dim sum .
Family Kitchen will be cooking Hong Kong cuisine, and Jeong Cook will sell authentic Korean dishes.
All events will take place in Wokingham Market Place, on Sunday, February 18, between 11am and 3pm.
Denmark Street will be closed on the day from Market Place up to, but not including, the entrance of Denmark Street car park.
Residents are asked to plan their journeys accordingly.
All town centre car parks will be open.
For more information, visit: www.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/lunar-new-year
