Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival 2025 🐍

Published Jan. 23 2025 08:30 PM By Sheffield BID

Bringing communities in Sheffield together to celebrate has been a 20-year ambition of city entrepreneur Jerry Cheung.

The Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival he created will do just that next week, with an action-packed weekend in the city centre.

International artists, UK firsts and 1,000 imported lanterns are all part of the buzz as the festival grows to the ‘next level.’

We spoke to Jerry about what to expect from this year’s vibrant spectacle.

🐍 What is the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival?

🧧 Why did the festival begin?

🦁 How to enjoy the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival

🌎 How will the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival benefit the city

🥟 What else is happening in Sheffield city centre for Chinese New Year?

🐍 What is the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival?

Now in its second year, the growing festival aims to share Chinese traditions, integrate the many cultures of Sheffield and bring people into the city centre.

It is presented by Cultural Inclusive CIC, a local organisation founded by Jerry which promotes culture and community,

The festival includes six events across Sheffield, from a vibrant public extravaganza over two days in the city centre to a closing gala raising funds for the Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity. Last year the festival raised £20,000 for the cause.

The Chinese New Year officially falls on Wednesday, 29 January, this year. 2025 is the Year of the Snake, the sixth of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar.

People born under this sign are often associated with characteristics such as wisdom and intuition.

Lunar New Year is the beginning of a new year based on the lunar calendar and is celebrated in several different countries, including Vietnam and Malaysia.

🧧 Why did the festival begin?

A team has been working on the 2025 festival for many months, but its origins run far deeper.

Jerry said: “It started in 2004 when I was elected the chair of the Chinese Community Centre in Sheffield. There were lots of different small communities celebrating Chinese New Year separately, and my idea was to get everyone together.”

A Chinese Lunar New Year Gala was held in Sheffield venues for many years after that.

Jerry added: “We really wanted to have it in the city centre. Last year was the first time we did and that is the next level.

“2024 was a huge success, we had great support from Sheffield BID and Sheffield City Council and managed to put on a real show.

“It increased the city centre footfall on a Sunday by around 45 per cent and the feedback we had was overwhelmingly positive.”

Sheffield has a Chinese community of many thousands of people. But until now it has not had the significant Chinese New Year celebrations that other cities, such as Manchester and London, enjoy.

Jerry, who is originally from Hong Kong and was born in the year of the Ox, is also the managing director behind Sheffield’s modern Chinatown New Era Square.

He added: “Sheffield’s Chinese community isn’t too far behind Manchester, in terms of size. It is very diverse, with people coming from Hong Kong and the mainland, but the good thing is we all pull together for Chinese New Year.”

🦁 How can I enjoy the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival

The festival’s showcase event is the spectacular Peace Gardens Lunar Fair, supported by Sheffield BID.

A symbolic eye dotting ceremony to ‘awaken’ the festival’s lions - and featuring local VIPs - will officially launch the fair in the gardens at 12pm on Saturday, 1 February.

Then an acrobatic lion dance performed by international champions, flown in from Foshan in China, will wow the crowds.

This type of lion dance takes place on a platform above the ground, and this will be the first time a show of this kind has been seen at this scale in the UK.

The streets of Sheffield city centre will also be decked with more than 1,000 imported Chinese lanterns.

Meanwhile, 2m high interactive statues of all the Chinese Zodiac signs will be on display. They have QR codes which people can scan to learn their zodiac sign and fortune for the year ahead.

Throughout the weekend, there is a varied programme of performances lined up. These include a cultural fashion show and displays by the Wanlin Dance Academy, Chengdu Acrobatic Troupe, and the Sheffield Chinese Christian Church Gospel Choir.

Traditional Chinese instrumental music featuring the Guzheng (a Chinese plucked zither) and Pipa (Chinese lute) will be performed. And dozens of food stalls will serve up authentic global dishes - from barbecued skewers to gyoza, Korean chicken and sushi.

Like the variety of food, global cultural influences are also part of the celebrations.

Bollywood dance, African drumming and Roma Flamenco will be presented by the Sheffield organisation Welcoming Cultures.

The festival closes on Monday, 10 February with a Lunar Chinese New Year Gala at the Octagon Centre. It also includes a light display at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and performances at Meadowhall.

🌎 How will the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival benefit the city?

The festival is a cultural celebration set to boost city centre trade at a quiet time of year. Long-term, it is hoped the festival will grow and achieve the same recognition as similar celebrations in other cities.

But as well as the economic and cultural wins, Jerry hopes it will benefit the city as a whole.

With one eye on the weather forecast, he added: “This year’s festival is set to be massive. The primary objective is to promote community cohesion and cultural diversity.

“Chinese New Year is the platform that we use but it is to bring all communities together to share and appreciate our different cultures.

“We want this to be a way for everyone to enjoy the richness and enjoyment of cultural exchange. That’s important for a city like Sheffield - it contributes to the vibrancy and strength of our community.

“It is multi-purpose, hopefully doing something for the economy, promoting unity and providing culture.

Diane Jarvis, Head of Business Operations at Sheffield BID, added: “Sheffield BID is proud to support the Lunar Chinese New Year Festival for the second year.

“Festivals like this are not only a celebration of culture but also an opportunity to bring people into the city centre and boost trade during a quieter time of year. As a major funder, we are committed to helping the festival grow and achieve the same recognition as Lunar New Year celebrations in other major cities.”

Find out more about the festival schedule here.

🥟 What else is happening in Sheffield city centre for Chinese New Year?

Here are three other events taking place to celebrate the Year of the Snake in Sheffield city centre.

Authentic Szechuan restaurant China Red is hosting a charity auction banquet as part of the Sheffield Lunar Chinese New Year Festival.

Last year prizes included football shirts and traditional Chinese gifts, while jewellery, wine and art is also expected to go under the hammer.
It takes place on Wednesday, 5 February at the city centre eatery and will also raise funds for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
To book email chinaredbookings@gmail.com.

Food hall Cambridge Street Collective is hosting a series of events to mark Chinese New Year.

On Sunday, 2 February, there is a themed and free mini disco for children from 10am. Calligraphy, screen printing and lantern workshops are also taking place over the weekend of Saturday, 8 and Sunday, 9 February.
Explore the full set of events at Cambridge Street Collective here.

On Saturday, 8 February, The Millennium Gallery on Surrey Street will host a Year of the Snake party.

Enjoy Hong Kong-style snacks, crafts, games and cultural performances, from Tai Chi to Gujeng music.
The event is organised by Re-Water CIC and is free to attend on a drop in basis, with a suggested donation of £3. It runs from 10.30am until 4.30pm.
Find out more here.