Birmingham’s Lunar New Year Festival 2024: Full lineup for Year of the Dragon celebrations in Chinatown

Are you ready for a spectacular celebration of the Lunar New Year? The city invites the public to partake in cultural performances and witness a fireworks display that will mark the celebration of the festivities and to explore the rich history and significance of the Lunar New Year.  

What is the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year, is one of the most important festivals in many Asian cultures. It follows the lunar calendar and starts on the first new moon of the year. This year, it falls on Saturday, February 10, 2024.

Each new year is associated with an animal from the zodiac. 2024 is the Year of the Dragon, a sign of courage, success, and vitality. People born in the Year of the Dragon are said to be confident, ambitious, and charismatic.

How do people celebrate the Lunar New Year?

The Lunar New Year is a time of joy and festivity for millions of people around the world. It is a tradition to tidy and decorate their homes with red lucky signs, exchange gifts and greetings, and have a feast with their family and friends. They also honour their ancestors and set off fireworks to ward off evil spirits.

What to expect at Birmingham Lunar New Year festival 2024 & full line up here

Birmingham is set to host an exciting Lunar New Year Festival on Sunday, February 11, 2024. This free and inclusive event will feature a diverse array of activities, including captivating performances, culinary delights, crafts, and a spectacular fireworks display, all in celebration of the Year of the Dragon.

Organised collaboratively by the Birmingham Hippodrome, the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee, and the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association. The festival will span from 12noon until 6pm across Southside, with the main stage in Hippodrome Square, the craft market and funfair rides in Inge Street and Hurst Street, and the family activities and exhibitions inside the Birmingham Hippodrome and Chinatown. 

According to Kin Bong Lam, Chair of the Birmingham Chinatown Business Association, this packed programme promises something for everyone, and the Lunar New Year 2024 celebrations will truly “put Southside on the map”. In addition to the planned activities, keep an eye out for delightful surprises, including dragon and lion dances, as well as a giant panda roaming the streets. Highlights of the Festival:

• The Uber Eats Festival Stage: The stage will host a variety of performances from 12pm until 6pm, starting with the traditional waking of the Lion ‘Dim Jing’ with firecrackers. You can also enjoy drummers, face changers, school choirs, musicians, K-pop dancers, and traditional Chinese dancers. The stage will have British Sign Language interpretation throughout.
• The Family Activities: The Birmingham Hippodrome’s foyer will have free family activities and face painting from 12pm until 5.30pm, where you can decorate dragon puppets, try calligraphy, colour zodiac animals, and write your new year wishes on a dragon scale. You can also join dance workshops in the Level 1 Foyer, where you can learn K-pop or traditional Chinese fan dance moves, and watch a performance showcase from MOVE Midlands, a group of British East & South East Asian creatives, in the Patrick Studio.
• The Fine Art Exhibition: The Thorp Street Atrium will display Hsiaoling Houston’s debut fine art exhibition, featuring her paintings inspired by Chinese culture and mythology.
• The Craft Market and Street Food: The Arcadian Centre and Chinatown will have stalls where you can browse and buy unique souvenirs, gifts, and snacks. You can also taste delicious food from different Asian cuisines, as the local restaurants and cafes will have special menus for the occasion.
• The Fireworks Finale: The festival will end with a bang and a spectacular firework display in the sky at 5.45pm in Hippodrome Square. The fireworks will symbolise the driving away of bad spirits and monsters, and the welcoming of the Year of the Dragon.

11:45

Dragon and Lions Procession to the Main Stage

12:00 – 12:55

• Opening Ceremony – Welcome Speeches, Dim Jing Waking of the Dragon, Dragon and Lion Dance, Firecrackers
• XI Studios – K-Pop performance
• Robin Hood Academy - Childrens Choir
• Uber Eats – Introducing

13:00 – 13:55

• Tai Chi / Sword Sparring / Xing Yi Kung Fu – Showcase
• Solo Pianist – Ruimei Huang
• Wan Sheung – Dragon Dance
• Allcam Chinese Arts – Yue Opera
• Ling Long Dance – Umbrella Dance
• Mingham Modern Language school – Dance performance
• UOB CSSA Dance Group – Traditional Chinese Dance

14:00 – 14:55

• Pinyan Lin & Kevin Xu – Guzheng & Pipa
• Uber Eats – Introducing
• Birmingham Chinese Women’s Association – Music Performance
• Overseas Chinese Association School – Dance performance
• IVIX – K-POP Performance
• Yijie Qu – Solo Violinist
• Allcam Chinese Arts – Silk Fan Dance
• Wan Sheung – Dance Performance

15:00 – 15:55

• Dans Dance – Face changer performance
• Choy Lee Fut – Lions, Drums and Buddha men
• Ling Long – Xinjiang Dance
• Birmingham Cultural and Language School – Dance
• Allcam Chinese Arts – Chinese Pop Dance
• Birmingham Chinese Society – Karaoke Group
• Uber Eats – introducing

16:00 – 16:55

• IVIX – K-POP Performance
• Birmingham Cultural and Language School – Fan Dance
• Allcam Chinese Arts – Yue Opera
• Dans Dance – Face changer performance
• Shantanu Patel – China Gates
• Ling Long Dance – Umbrella Dance
• Wan Sheung – Dance Performance
• 17:00 – 18:00
• Tai Chi / Sword Sparring / Xing Yi Kung Fu – Showcase
• XI Studios – K-Pop performance
• Closing Ceremony – Choy Lee Fut Dragon and Lion Dance with Firecrackers

The festival is accessible to everyone, with a dedicated Access Hub at the front of Birmingham Hippodrome, where you can find out more about the festival, the chill out zone and accessible viewing point, and borrow ear defenders, fidget toys, and audio description headsets.

James Wong, Chair of the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee said: “Everyone’s favourites are on the bill for Lunar New Year 2024 from the traditional waking of the Lion ‘Dim Jing’ to Dragon dances representing power, strength and good luck for the New Year to Pom Pom – our giant 10 foot panda – out and about welcoming festival goers throughout the day, we look forward to seeing all your selfies!”

The Lunar New Year Festival is supported by Bentley, Southside Business District, The Arcadian, The Birmingham Chinese School, Birmingham Chinatown Lions, Berkeley St Joseph, Birmingham Rainbow Casino & Hollywood Monster.

Chris Sudworth, Creative Director at Birmingham Hippodrome added: “We are delighted that alongside our partners Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee and Birmingham Chinatown Business Association, and with the support of our funders, we can announce such a packed programme for Lunar New Year 2024. We can’t wait to welcome the community to the Southside District, inside and outside Birmingham Hippodrome, for a day of celebration, performances and family fun.”