Medway kicks off Chinese New Year celebrations with preview event

CELEBRATIONS marking the start of Chinese New Year got underway in Medway this weekend, with a preview event in Chatham High Street.

Colourful entertainment in the form of dancers, martial arts performers and Cantonese opera singers began two weekends of festivities in Chatham on Saturday morning.

And the celebrations are set to continue with one of the UK's largest Chinese New Year parades, held in Chatham on Sunday (17 February).

More than 150 in Chinese costume will feature in the parade which will also include Chinese dragons and lion and unicorn dancers.

Mayor of Medway, Cllr Vaughan Hewett will lead the parade, which will line up at the junction of Chatham High Street and Military Road at midday and travel to the end of the High Street, near Tesco.

This year's festival will be rounded off with The Wonderful China show – a showcase of dancing, martial arts, music and magic at The Central Theatre in Chatham on Sunday 17 February.

The production will feature The Medway Dragon Team, The Foshan and Medway Lion Dance Teams, The Dance Alley Dancers, Shi Kon Martial Arts and special guests from the Cantonese Opera from Hong Kong.

The show starts at 2.30pm and tickets cost £7.50, with concessions costing £6.50.

To buy tickets, go to Medway Tickets Live or phone The Central Theatre box office on 01634 338338.