Chinese New Year 2025 Celebrations - The Year of The Snake

About

Happy Chinese New Year 2025: The Year of the Snake. Saturday 1 February Clayport Library, Dunelm House (Students’ Union) The Oriental Museum and city centre streets 10.00am - 4.00pm.

Free entry. Chinese language, Chinese lion dancing, Craft stalls for children, music and dance performances.

Clayport Library
Activities are all drop in and are FREE to attend. They are suitable for children and adults. Children must be supervised.

10:30 - 15:30

● Drop-in children’s crafts (lanterns, paper chain snakes and more)

● Handle objects from the Oriental Museum’s collection

12:00 – 14:30

● Drop-in language taster sessions with Durham University

Durham Market Place, Durham City streets and Clayport Library

● Food sales and information stall in Market Place

12:30 start

● Lion Dance - see if the Mayor will catch the lucky lettuce to bring good luck to the city for the coming year. Follow the lion dance procession across the city.

Oriental Museum
Suitable for families with children aged 5-11 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult. FREE of charge and FREE entry to the Oriental Museum.

13:00 - 15:00
Celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Snake and make some snaky shadow puppets.

Dunelm House, Durham Students’ Union, New Elvet
11:00 - 14:30
Easy access from street. Admission is free. Visitors can join and leave the performance programme at any point. Tiered seating will provide an excellent view of two special shows.

11:00
Event Opening & Interactive Activities
Activities for visitors, such as games and calligraphy, organised by members of the Chinese Scholars and Students Association and Durham Chinese School.

Host’s Welcome and Introduction of the First Performance

Tea ceremony 12:30 - 14:30
University showcase a fantastic performance of music, song and dance performed by members of the Chinese Scholars and Students Association, the Han Fu Society and Durham Chinese School.

The show will feature great solo instrumentals on instruments unfamiliar to many - hulusi, gushing and pipa, great vocal performances, a dance show choreographed by a talented volunteer and will conclude with an amazing costume show; introducing traditional Chinese costume from all parts of China.