A colourful and vibrant procession will take place in Ilkeston next month to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
This year is the Year of the Pig and to mark the occasion there will be a drop-in family lantern making workshop with Spiral Arts at Erewash Museum on Saturday 9 February, between 1pm-5.15pm. For £1.50 per person, you can create your own recycled pop bottle lanterns to take along to the early evening parade. The lantern procession – set to be a riot of colour and noise – will make its way from the museum to Ilkeston Market Place, accompanied by drum players, dancers and children from Dallimore Primary school, who have worked with artist Ling Peng during a school residency. The parade will also feature a special processional pig lantern made by local artist Ann Levett of Avago Crafts.
Entertainment on the Market Place will include traditional Chinese music, ribbon dancing and lion dancing, and will feature costumed performers mimic the movements of a lion to bring good luck and fortune. There will also be singing and music from classically trained Ling Peng who will be playing the Chinese violin.
Councillor Mike Wallis, Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:
“This event always proves popular with the public and has attracted hundreds of people to Ilkeston Market Place in previous years. Our Arts Development Team do a fantastic job in organising colourful, vibrant and creative activities for people of all ages. We hope that everyone will join us in celebrating the Chinese New Year.”
Organised by Erewash Borough Council’s Arts Development Team, the Chinese New Year celebration is the final event in the council’s Festival of Light programme – a series of events to mark traditional and culturally diverse celebrations from September through to February each year. These feature Harvest Moon, Diwali, the Erewash Bonfire and Fireworks display, the Long Eaton Christmas Lights switch on events and Winter Solstice.
More information can be found at erewashmuseum.co.uk
Erewash Museum is located in Ilkeston town centre, a short walk from the Market Place. Opening hours are Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am-4pm, and Monday to Saturday during school holidays. Admission is free. Contact 0115 907 1141, email museum@erewash.gov.uk or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum. You can also follow the museum on Twitter @Erewash_Museum, and Instagram @erewashmuseum.
