Lancaster's Lunar New Year: A Hong Kong Dream

Two friends from Hong Kong, Josh Leung and Percy Lee, have successfully organized Lancaster's fifth annual Chinese New Year party, transforming it into a major regional event that now attracts thousands. Seven years after meeting as students in Lancaster, they wanted to share the joy of Chinese New Year with the city that welcomed them. Their efforts began in 2022 with decorating streets and have since grown to include cultural variety shows featuring traditional performances.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Leung and Lee established Popber, a community interest company, to support local businesses through YouTube videos and by organizing a Coffee and Tea Festival. Inspired by celebrations in other UK cities, they aimed to bring similar festivities to Lancaster, replicating childhood festival memories and combating winter gloom. The current Year of the Horse celebration, starting on Sunday, includes a parade, traditional dancing, music, a kung-fu demonstration, and family-friendly workshops.

The Confucius Institute at Lancaster University is supporting the event, highlighting the success of internationally focused cultural events in smaller cities. The festival commenced with an opening ceremony on Market Square, followed by a vibrant street parade. Activities planned include Shaolin kung-fu, Kunqu performances, and the Youth Chinese Orchestra, alongside workshops on calligraphy and mask painting. The organizers expressed pride in the event's growth and the positive feedback received, emphasizing their goal to make it even better each year.