Are You going To Celebrate Chinese New Year Events In Liverpool?

LIVERPOOL, home of the oldest Chinese population in Europe is set put on another fantastic welcome to the Chinese New Year - 4711. Over the 9 February and 10 February 2013, a series of events will take place across the City Centre which will welcome in the Year of the Snake in the tradionally loud, lively style!

Activities start on Saturday, 9 February 2013 with Tai Chi demonstrations taking place from 12pm to 3.30pm, located on Nelson Street and a Chinese Art Exhibition, along with workshops, held at the Black-E from 11am to 5pm, with an admission fee of just £1!

From 1pm to 4pm the bandstand in Williamson Square will be taken over by Chinese arts company China Pearl which will showcase musical performances, catwalk shows dancing and drumming, getting shoppers in the mood for the full celebrations the following day.

On Sunday, 10 February 2013, residents are encouraged to not only enjoy the spectacle of the day, but join in. Movema – a community organisation which provides world dance activities; is inviting people to head to the Black-E at 10.30am and learn some dance moves and take those moves onto the street as part of snake inspired flash mob.

All the celebrations kick off at 11am with the family friendly fun fair and the popular Chinese market on Great George Street which will sell gifts, souvenirs and mouth-watering food. At 11.30am the dragon, unicorn and lion parades will get underway in Chinatown, culminating at 1pm in a spectacular fire cracker display in Great George Square starring the 'Lucky Man' who will be handing out red envelopes to children.

Liverpool City Council’s cabinet member for culture and tourism, Councillor Wendy Simon, said:- "Chinese New Year is one of the City’s most popular annual events and each year attracts more and more people. It’s an event that has a really close community feel to it, and it’s wonderful that we work together with so many local organisations to make sure this an exciting, colourful weekend for people of all ages. This year’s celebrations are taking place across an entire weekend in different areas of the City Centre, which will be a treat for visitors and shoppers who can all join together to wish the Chinese community a healthy and happy Year of the Snake."

Once again, musical community organisation Urban Strawberry Lunch are taking part, and from around 11.30am will be welcoming the Snake with drumming and making decorations which will adorn St Luke’s Church.

And watch out for the handiwork of Liverpool’s Happy Hookers Crochet Group which will be appearing on various signs in and around the Chinatown area!

Throughout the day activities will also take place on Bold Street and in Ropewalks Square.

To print off the schedule for some events taking place on Saturday and Sunday click on here.

The excitement doesn’t finish on Sunday, as activities will continue to take place in the City for the next few weeks.

This includes a rare chance to see Europe’s 1st and largest Chinese Orchestra rehearse at the Pagoda Chinese Community Centre and a special symposium, looking at Liverpool’s Chinatown will take place at FACT.

For further details of all the events visit:- liverpool.gov.uk/chinesenewyear  or lcba.net.

Southport to welcome in Chinese New Year

SOUTHPORT'S Oriental Garden Restaurant, on Neville Street, will be hosting 2 weekend events to welcome in the Chinese New Year. The restaurant will be holding its celebration evenings, starting at 7.30pm on Saturday, 9 February 2013 and on 16 February 2013. The nights activities include a fantastic South and North Lion dance, Kung Fu Demonstrations and a Prize Draw, along with lots of food...To go, contact the restaurant in advance as you must book to attend, but some of the activities take place on the road outside... so keep your eyes open! if you are also holding an event, let us now by emailing us to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Liverpool residents given access to cheaper dental treatment abroad

RESIDENTS from Liverpool now have access to cheaper dental treatment thanks to a new dental company which specialises in major dental surgery abroad. The company officially launched in February 2013, after seeing increased demand from patients in Liverpool and across the UK. As the numbers of NHS dental practices slowly decrease, many British people are looking overseas for cheaper alternatives. "Due to the high cost of dental treatment in the UK, many Polish people living in Liverpool and the surrounding area regularly return to the clinic for treatments. However, in recent years we have noticed a surge in British-born clients from the region. When we asked them why they were coming to our practice, many told us that Polish friends or colleagues back in Liverpool had recommended us. We decided that if local people were looking travel to mainland Europe for treatments, we should try to make the procedure as easy and comfortable as possible." explained Dr Wojciech Faferko, from Dentim Europe. If you have used one of these companies offering cheaper dental treatment abroad, please let us know what you think of the service and also let us know if you are looking at using them. Email our newsroom to:- news24@southportreporter.com with your views on this topic.

SFC - Southport is getting a make over

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