Chinese New Year is nearly upon us. Food, music, fireworks, culture, fairground rides that look so fast they force you to sit down as you convince yourself to pick one to stomach. This year invites the celebration of The Year of the Rooster, the tenth year in the Chinese Zodiac, promising us a year of romance, fortune, and personality, kicking off with suitably flamboyant celebrations. Promising to be bigger and better this Chinese New Year boasts two main performance areas, The Genting Stage on Hurst Street will host performances, lion dances, acrobats, martial artists, cultural demonstrations and Chinese magic. The Birmingham International Airport stage on Ladywell Walk will welcome local community groups and university students with traditional Chinese music and performances throughout the day. The Arcadian Centre will also have a host of traditional stalls and Chinese street food as well as a large marquee with a seating area to consider those fairground rides from. And of course there’s The Dragon by The Jelly Rollers in all it’s bubble blowing machine whirring glory.
The Birmingham Hippodrome will also take part in the festivities with traditional performances outside their main entrance and free children’s workshops in the Patrick Centre.
Work shop times: Lego Workshop: 11.30am-4pm, Mask Making:12-4pm, Lantern Making: 11.30am-4pm and a traditional Minecraft Workshop: 11.30am-4pm (15 min slots).
Cock-a-doodle-dandy.

Sun 29 Jan, 11am – 4pm, Southside Birmingham. Free,  Genting Stage (Hurst Street) 12pm – 4pm
Birmingham Airport Stage (Ladywell Walk) 12.30pm – 3pm. www.birminghamhippodrome.com