Bullring & Grand Central to ring in Chinese New Year with free events

Chinese New Year celebrations are expected to take place in Birmingham next month as the city welcomes in the Year of the Tiger with free public events at Bullring & Grand Central.

The Chinese Festival Committee Birmingham has once again joined forces with Birmingham Hippodrome and partners to announce Birmingham’s Chinese New Year celebrations which will take place on Saturday 5 February.

Traditionally, the Chinese New Year Festival is hosted at The Arcadian Centre in Southside but due to COVID-19 restrictions the event was cancelled in 2021.

This year the plans to mark the Chinese New Year at the regular site, which normally includes outdoor stalls, marquees and street food, have been set aside in favour of hosting the much-loved celebrations at Bullring & Grand Central.

The festival organisers have instead opted to ring in the Year of the Tiger at Bullring & Grand Central with an afternoon of free public performances.

Shoppers at Bullring & Grand Central will be able to enjoy the much loved lion dance, pop up performances including traditional fan and umbrella dances, shaolin monks, face changing dancers, amazing acrobats and much more throughout the day on Saturday 5 February.

The performances will take place between 12pm and 5pm and everyone is welcome.

Music performances and dance, including a celebration of traditional Chinese arts, make up a key part of the festival in Birmingham.

One of the core elements of the Chinese New Year Festival is to bring together the diverse communities of Birmingham for a special day of celebrations and unity.

The Chinese New Year Festival always proves a hit with the people of Birmingham and the event gets bigger with each passing year.

The free public event is produced with Birmingham Hippodrome and supported by the Chinese Festival Committee Birmingham and Chinese Community Centre Birmingham.

This year’s Chinese New Year will usher in the Water Tiger and it will run from 1 February 2022 until 21 January 2023.

The Tiger is known as the king of all beasts in China and the zodiac sign Tiger is a symbol of strength, bravery, and exorcising evil.

Festival Chairman Mr Wong, said: “I am delighted to be working in collaboration with such brilliant partners to celebrate the Year of the Tiger at Bullring & Grand Central.”

Mr Wong, added: “Throughout our annual celebrations we also encourage people to support the Chinese community and businesses in Southside.

“Kung Hey Fat Choi for 2022 (wishing you happiness and prosperity for 2022).”

Danielle Bozward, Marketing Manager at Bullring & Grand Central, said: “Our Chinese New Year celebrations in 2020 had a wonderful response from visitors and we are so pleased to be working with Birmingham Hippodrome and the Chinese Festival Committee Birmingham to bring Chinese New Year back to Bullring & Grand Central.

“The lion dance procession is a firm favourite in our calendar and we look forward to shoppers joining us for a day of celebrations.”

“Chinese New Year is one of our favourite annual community events we produce.”