RCNY presents big Lunar New Year celebration on Katendrecht

Tuesday 17 February marks the beginning of the Year of the Horse, according to Chinese astrology. The Lunar New Year offers 15 days of cultural performances, activities and decorations in the city during the national public celebration. There are two large public celebrations during Rotterdam Chinese New Year on the weekend of 28 February and 1 March, around West-Kruiskade and on Katendrecht. This year, the Lunar New Year celebrations on Katendrecht will be extra grand with outdoor and indoor celebrations.

Saturday, February 28, West Kruiskade will be the festival site closed to traffic. Festivities will take place all afternoon, including a festive market, musical performances, exhibitions, dragon dancers and creative workshops in four stationary trams.

The centrepiece of the celebration is a grand lion and dragon dance parade. Following tradition, the lion and dragon dancers bless the New Year at Rotterdam entrepreneurs on West-Kruiskade and in the shopping area between West-Kruiskade and the Market Hall. Drums, fireworks and, of course, the lion and dragon dancers chase away evil spirits and bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.

Katendrecht

On Sunday 1 March, Lunar New Year will be celebrated on Katendrecht. This year, the celebration will be expanded from Rotterdam Chinese New Year. With support from Fenix and Verhalenhuis Belvédère, a celebration will be set up from different cultures. Lunar New Year is the broader name used for the celebration of the New Year according to the lunar calendar, as celebrated in most Asian countries. This year's programme includes components from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese cultures. The cultures merge into one cohesive Lunar New Year programme.

Besides content, the programme is also expanding in a literal sense. The celebration will take place on Deli Square and Plein, Fenixs covered city square. The programme is freely accessible and all workshops, performances and activities are free of charge. Visitors can participate in various workshops and activities, watch demos and performances or pass by stalls. For children, there will be a bid of games, crafts, face painting and more.

A big lion and dragon dance parade will also take place on Katendrecht, with a decorative fireworks show on the quay in front of Hotel New York at 6.30pm as a spectacular finale.

15 days of celebration

Lunar New Year lasts for 15 days, from 17 February to 3 March. Festivities include the World Museum, Studio de Bakkerij, Lantarenvenster and the Market Hall. The entire programming of the celebration can be found on this website.