Music, dance and a heart-warming lantern procession are among the highlights when the Year of the Dog is celebrated in colourful style during Chinese New Year festivities on Saturday 17 February.

Drop-in family lantern making workshops will be running at Erewash Museum between 12.30pm and 5pm where, for £1.50 per person, people can make their own lanterns to take along to the early evening parade.

The Year of the Dog celebrations will begin at 5.30pm when the lantern procession will set off from the museum to the nearby Ilkeston Market Place. The parade will also feature a special processional dog lantern made by local artist Ann Levett and adults with learning disabilities from the Outlook Day Centre in Long Eaton.

A one-hour New Year knees-up in the Market Place will include Dragon Dancing by pupils from Hallam Fields Junior School, Lion Dancing from Seven Star Praying Mantis Kung Fu and Chinese music and song from professional musician Ling Peng.

Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“Whether you want to make lanterns and join in the procession or simply want to go along to watch the fun, our Chinese New Year celebration will be a memorable family event. So join us to welcome the Year of the Dog!”

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, Christmas Lights switch on events and Winter Solstice.

· In Long Eaton, musician Ling Peng will be working with pupils from Sawley Infant and Nursery and Dovedale Primary schools. They will be exploring Chinese song and dragon dancing, leading up to a performance for family and friends at Long Eaton’s Dovedale School.