City prepares to welcome Year of the Snake (From The Advertiser Series)

Durham prepares to welcome Year of the Snake

11:58am Monday 4th February 2013 in News By Tony Kearney

A TRADITIONAL lion will roar through the streets this weekend to welcome the Chinese New Year of the Snake.

Expert lion dancers from Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club will wend their way through the streets of Durham City on Saturday to entertain the crowds.

In keeping with tradition, the lion will chew on a lettuce before spitting it out to a chosen dignitary from the city, who this year will be Mayor of Durham, Coun John Wilkinson, and bring the city good luck for the coming year.

Colin Wilkes, from Durham City Forum, said: "We look forward to welcoming back Oceans Apart Kung Fu Club for another colourful, energetic display which is traditionally the first and much-loved feature of the city’s calendar."

The Lion Dance will place in the Market Place at 12:30pm, with subsequent dances in Prince Bishops Shopping Centre at 1pm, The Gates Shopping Centre at 1:25pm, Clayport Library at 1:50pm and the Slug and Lettuce, in Walkergate at 2:10pm.

There will also be free drop-in Chinese New Year Arts and Crafts sessions in the Market Place from 9:30am to 4pm and Clayport Library throughout the afternoon.

Durham University Oriental Museum is also celebrating with a daily Chinese New Year Gallery Trail from Saturday, February 9 to February 24.

On Sunday, February 24 the museum will be open late from 6pm to 8pm to celebrate the Lantern Festival, the end of the Chinese New Year fortnight.

This is a chance to see the museum lit by lanterns, enjoy Chinese New Year crafts, try the riddle trail and join in a dragon procession, which is £1 per person or free for the under fives.