Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  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...

The Chinese New Year celebrations delivered by cosmopolitan arts in #Leicester come to the Highcross Shopping Center with a showcase of Chinese culture from fan dances to the "flying dragon" and traditional instruments performed by various groups including The Confucius Institute,  The Chinese Whispers Ensemble and Leicester based Dance and Martial Arts Group ITSWA among others. The film starts at the Highcross Beacons which are displaying an animation themed on the New Year of the Snake, we then arrive at the showcase where a fan dance is underway and the crowds are gathering to watch. Next up we have flying dragon displays of two types and more fan dancing. Moving to the side of the performance area we find Mr Cleavers Monsters  creating "Little Dragons" with a "make and take" workshop for children can you spot his amazing dragons getting ready for the next days parade ?. Back in the showcase there`s traditional Lion Dance with the sound of the tradit...

The Chinese New Year Procession sees a traditional Chinese dragon parade along the streets of Leicester taking in many city center landmarks. The dragon, traditional dragon dancers and drums accompanied by people holding boards featuring the animals of the chinese zodiac lead by the Tiger made their way from Jubilee Square along high street and through the old town marking the start of the New Year of the Water Tiger. Water Tiger was very apt as a light shower became heavier by the clock tower, regardless the procession continued round into the Leicester market area and into the Lanes old town area and past Leicester Cathedral which at the time of writing is undergoing a big restoration. We end back in Jubilee Square. The Chinese New Year events are organised by Cosmopolitan Arts and Amanda Leandro.

The Chinese New Year Celebrations in Leicester started with a procession through the city center to the clock tower stopping at various points to entertain the gathered crowds with dancing dragons and a longer dragon chasing a pearl through the streets. The procession ended at New Market Square where a dragon dance was performed with a traditional drum accompaniment and a 3D projection shown on the corn exchange. The event concluded with a pyrotechnic display and firecrackers.