Sheffield’s Lunar New Year Festival 2025

About

image: Yu Wang

Sheffield will celebrate the Lunar New Year in grand style with a vibrant festival scheduled for Saturday 1st – Sunday 2nd February 2025. Hosted by ‘Cultural Inclusive’, a Community Interest Company, with support from Sheffield City Council and Sheffield BID, the festival promises a city-wide cultural celebration packed with performances, food, and traditional Chinese decorations.

Location: Sheffield City Centre – Surry Street, Pinestone Street, and Peace Gardens

Festival Highlights

• Main stage at Peace Gardens: Enjoy live performances, including traditional music and dance, throughout the festival.
• World Champion ‘Lion Dance’ Troupe: The Foshan Lion Dance Troupe, a renowned group from China, will perform acrobatic stunts on a towering 15-metre platform, marking their first appearance in Sheffield.
• 1,000 Lanterns Across the City Centre: Sheffield’s streets will be illuminated with 1,000 traditional Chinese lanterns.
• Giant Zodiac Characters: 2-metre-high lanterns representing the Chinese zodiac signs will be displayed across the city, complete with interactive QR codes to explore each zodiac’s significance.
• Food Stalls: An array of food stalls will offer a wide selection of traditional Asian cuisines.

Launch Event and Community Involvement

The festival launch event took place at China Red on Tuesday, 15th October, bringing together key community figures, including the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Sheffield and representatives from Sheffield BID. Jerry Cheung, founder of Cultural Inclusive, shared the festival’s mission to highlight cultural diversity, saying, “Our mission is to create an inclusive platform that celebrates the richness and diversity of all cultures, and events like this offer a perfect opportunity to showcase that.”

Exciting Activities and Cultural Significance

This year’s Lunar New Year festival is designed to be Sheffield’s largest yet. Adding to the festive atmosphere will be:

• Live Performances: Cultural and musical acts will bring the main stage at Peace Gardens to life.
• Workshops: Attendees can join in cultural workshops that celebrate the arts and traditions of East Asia.
• Interactive Experiences: Festivalgoers can engage with interactive QR codes on zodiac lanterns to learn more about the Year of the Snake.

A City-Wide Celebration of Culture

For decades, Sheffield has marked the Lunar New Year with cultural events, but recent years have seen it grow into a full city-wide celebration. Building on previous successes, this year’s festival will bring together people of all backgrounds, reflecting the city’s commitment to diversity and inclusivity. The event’s rapid impact on the community is evident as it has been nominated for The Spirit of Sheffield Award at the Sheffield Business Awards, recognising its positive influence.

For more information on the festival, visit the official Cultural Inclusive website.