Kicking off the festivities on Friday 24th January will be a Chinese classical concert presented by the University of Birmingham, held at the Bramall Concert Hall. On Saturday, shoppers at Bullring & Grand Central will be able to enjoy the much loved lion and dragon procession, plus traditional fan and umbrella dances, amazing acrobats and much more throughout the day. A special Wish Tree will also be on display in Grand Central, with visitors invited to add their New Year wishes.

To celebrate the official Chinese New Year’s Day on Sunday 26th January, there will be an exciting programme of performances and free activities in Birmingham’s Chinatown, located in the heart of Southside. The main stage in Hippodrome Square will host the official opening and closing ceremonies with a variety of performances throughout the day. Birmingham Hippodrome’s Patrick Studio will also host a free performance on Sunday, with an array of more free family-friendly activities available across the area.

Visitors can immerse themselves in Chinese culture, browsing a variety of authentic market stalls, sample delicious street food and watch impressive martial arts displays.

The weekend has been organised by the Chinese Festival Committee and Birmingham Hippodrome. The annual event now attracts up to 30,000 visitors and is set to be one of the biggest events in the Southside calendar.

Graham Callister, director of festivals at Birmingham Hippodrome, said: “We are thrilled to be co-producing Chinese New Year with the Chinese Festival Committee again. This will mark our fifth year being part of the festival, and as a venue in the heart of Southside we are passionate about working with our local communities and partners to offer exciting events across our wonderful city. We look forward to taking our Chinese Year Celebrations across Birmingham city centre and welcoming in the Year of the Rat.”

James Wong, chairman of Southside BID and the Chinese Festival Committee, said: “Following on from previous years, Chinese New Year 2020 will be bigger and better than ever. With so many different performances and activities going on, there’s something for everyone. Southside is a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds, which makes it such a great place to host our annual event, and I can’t wait to share our rich heritage with the rest of the city for a jam-packed weekend of celebrations.”