Overview
- Liverpool’s main festivities ran today in and around Chinatown and Great George Square, with firecrackers, stage performances and a 1pm dragon and unicorn parade lasting about 40 minutes.
- Organisers implemented 21 temporary road closures across the city centre, with key routes including Duke Street, Bold Street and Berry Street shut from 6am to 10pm for crowd safety.
- Two large lantern centrepieces—a horse and a pair of dragons—were commissioned by Culture Liverpool, Royal Albert Dock Liverpool and Liverpool ONE, complementing thousands of red street lanterns.
- Newcastle drew huge crowds for an eye-dotting ceremony at Grey’s Monument before a parade along Blackett Street, Gallowgate and through the Chinese Arch, with Tai Chi, fan dancing and traditional music.
- Regional programmes continued across the North and Midlands: Darlington and Durham hosted free town‑centre workshops and lion/dragon dances on Saturday, and Worcester’s celebration featured a Kui De Tang Lion Dance and speeches from local dignitaries.