In the second of my films from the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations: we joined the parade through the streets of Leicester.
Starting in Jubilee Square, the costumes are handed out. The ever-popular panda costumes go early, and the dragons are lined up ready to process along the high street.
The cheeky lion leads the parade onto the high street, accompanied by the Chinese God of Wealth and a crowd of people.
The lion stops at various Leicester businesses along the way to wish them a Happy and Prosperous New Year and causes some mischief along the way too.
Passing the newly updated entrance to the shopping centre, the lion takes an imaginary pee on a parked police car.
The rest of the parade, featuring dragons and other characters as well as zodiac signs, passes by on the way to the Clock Tower, where we see the new dragon for 2026 with lights and beautiful decorations.
To town hall square now, where crowds have gathered to see a number of performers, including a fire act with a spectacular flaming outline of a horse, marking the year of the fire horse.
The weekend’s events conclude with a loud and bright fireworks and firecracker display from three towers on the edge of the square.
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