RUGBY town centre will welcome in the Chinese New Year later this month.
A free celebration to mark the event will take place in Market Place on Sunday February 22 between 11.30am and 3.30pm.
Visitors will be treated to Chinese music, dance, crafts, food, face painting and lantern making, and will be invited to join in the traditional parade.
Chinese New Year marks the start of the lunar calendar and is the most important festival in Chinese culture, featuring family reunions, festive decorations, and traditional customs that date back thousands of years.
The 15-day celebration includes practices like giving red envelopes filled with money, lighting fireworks to ward off evil spirits, and enjoying symbolic foods that represent good fortune and prosperity.
In the Chinese calendar, each year is associated with a specific zodiac, and 2026 is the year of the horse, which symbolizes energy, passion and boldness.
At the Rugby event, there will be a full programme of music and dance, and a chance for attendees to try their hands at calligraphy, origami, face painting, lantern making and tea tasting.
Visitors will also be encouraged to try some traditional Chinese food and pick up a red envelope and coins – a traditional new year gift symbolizing good luck and happiness.
The centrepiece of the day will be the procession, which will involve lion and dragon dancing, lanterns and drums. It will leave Market Place at around 11.45am.
The event is being organised by Rugby Warwickshire Chinese Society in partnership with Rugby First and Rugby Borough Council.
Amy Zhang, Chairperson of the Rugby Warwickshire Chinese Society, said: “The Chinese New Year celebrations are a very important annual celebration for the Chinese Community and I am really pleased that we have the opportunity to celebrate it with the wider community in the town centre.
“I have no doubt that the lanterns, colourful and enigmatic lion and dragon dancing, along with the brilliant music and dance will provide an amazing spectacle and fantastic atmosphere in the town centre.
“I would like to say a special thank you to the Chinese Communities, Rugby First, Rugby Borough Council and all those taking part for their support and enthusiasm in helping to bring this event to life in Rugby town centre. Finally, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year.”
Linda Lowne, Rugby First Business Director, said: “It’s fantastic that Rugby town centre will be hosting Chinese New Year celebrations and I want to extend a special thanks to all those involved.
“The music and dance programme along with some traditional Chinese crafts looks amazing and I personally can’t wait to see the lion and dragon dancing.”
“The Chinese community in Rugby and the surrounding area continues to grow and we are looking forward to welcoming visitors from Coventry, Warwick and Leamington, many of whom are university students, to the town centre which can only be good news for the local economy.”
Visit www.rugbyfirst.org for more information on the festival, including the full music and dance programme.
