Celebrating Chinese New Year in Edinburgh 2024
The Chinese New Year preparations in Edinburgh are in full swing! This year celebrating the year of the Wood Dragon. Events and activities will take place across Edinburgh from Saturday 3rd to Friday 16th February 2024, including Chinese New Year Concerts, dragon and lion dances, two bilingual ceilidhs, tai-chi sessions, calligraphy, and tarot card reading.
There are twelve Chinese zodiac signs the Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The Year of the Dragon officially begins on Saturday 10th February. The Dragon is significant in Chinese culture as an auspicious and extraordinary creature, symbolising power, nobleness, honour, luck, and success. 2024 is forecasted to bring opportunities, changes, and challenges.
Edinburgh's Chinese New Year Festival is generously supported by Heriot-Watt University and Hainan Airlines as well as being co-ordinated by Edinburgh Tourism Action Group (ETAG) as part of its China Ready initiative, has become the largest celebration of its kind in Scotland since its inception in 2019.
Here are the events and activities taking place throughout Edinburgh celebrating The Year of the Dragon 2024: -
Saturday 3rd
Chinese New Year paper cutting & woodblock printing workshop taking place at Levels Cafe & Lounge, Holyrood Road 2pm - 3.30pm £25 Book Online
Year of the Dragon Chinese calligraphy experience at Strathberry, Multrees Walk.2pm - 5.30pm There is also a red envelope giveaway taking place between 3rd - 10th February.
Sunday 4th
The Mound Chinese New Year Celebration - Lion Dances, Chinese New Year folk dances, Hanfu stories, the celebrated waist drums, and magnificent Long Fan Dance as well as children's activities and a ceilidh. Free Event. 12noon.
Thursday 8th
Celebrating Chinese New Year at Louis Vuitton Multrees Walk - card illustration event with a talented calligrapher. Enjoy a cup of tea and delectable sweet treats. 12noon - 6pm
Friday 9th
Celebrate Chinese New Year at The Potions Cauldron, Rose Street Friday 9th - 24th February to Experience the magic of a limited edition 'Hotterscotch' and the chance to win a prize on spin the wheel. The venue will be decorated to celebrate too. Opening hours: Monday - Friday + Sunday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 7pm
Johnnie Walker Princes Street is putting on two special Journey of Flavour tours, hosted in Mandarin 15.30pm You might also like to indulge in the very special edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Lunar New Year. Celebrating the Year of the Dragon, this stellar dram has tasting note of hazelnut, sherry, dark chocolate and a rounded smoky finish.
Chinese New Year handbag workshop and exclusive gift at Islander UK. £60+ Book online. Available from Friday 9th - Sunday 11th February.
The Scotch Whisky Experience will be illuminated red between 9th - 11th February.
Saturday 10th
Chinese Lunar New Year family trail & crafts at St Cecilia's Hall. Suitable for ages 5+. Drop-in between 10am - 4.30pm
Traditional Lion Dance performances at St James Quarter 12noon and 1pm. Enjoy red envelope giveaways, celebratory offers and special menus across bars & restaurants.
Welcome the Dragon "Cha Dao" tea ceremony experience. Book online
The Year of the Dragon tarot reading at Harvey Nichols. Scotland's leading palmist, astrologer and tarot card reader Kalem Turner will be hosting 15-minute 1:1 appointments within the luxury surrounds of the private shopping suite at Harvey Nichols. 3pm - 5pm £10 per person. Book online
Year of the Dragon at Camera Obscura & World of Illusions. Camera Obscura is lighting up the building red and decorating some of the exhibits to join in the celebrations from 10th - 24th February. (Follow on Facebook and Instagram for fun Dragon-related posts only on 10th February).
Edinburgh Castle will be lit up in red and the Edinburgh Symphony Orchestra will be joined by a host of special guests to perform a ground-breaking programme of Scottish and Chinese music.
The Scotch Whisky Experience will be illuminated red between 9th - 11th February. There will also be a lucky Red Envelope giveaway today! Pop in and say "Happy New Year" to one of the retail staff to see if you are a lucky red envelope winner. Good Luck.
There will also be The Chinese New Year Concert at the Usher Hall 7.30pm. This year the concert will also present spirited Highland dancing, the show-stopping Peking Opera. With Lion and Dragon Dances outside the venue 5.30pm - 7.00pm
Sunday 11th
Tai Chi taster sessions for celebrating the Spring Festival - both online and in-person sessions celebrating the Year of the Dragon with an event theme Wood Dragon Greets Spring Festival with lively movements of Dragon. 2pm - 3.30pm £2.68 per person. Must be booked in advance.
Bilingual Ceilidh will be hosted by the University of Edinburgh at the City Art Centre. The event will bring the joy and breathless wonder of the traditional Scottish ceilidh with a Mandarin-speaking ceilidh caller and firm ceilidh dance favourites including Strip the Willow, Gay Gordons and Dashing White Sergeant. 5pm - 7pm £5 Student/ £8 Full price
Monday 12th
Tai Chi taster sessions for celebrating the Spring Festival - online-only sessions celebrating the Year of the Dragon with an event theme Wood Dragon Greets Spring Festival with lively movements of Dragon. 1pm - 1.50pm £2.68 per person. Must be booked in advance.
Tuesday 13th
Chinese Lunar New Year family trail & crafts at St Cecilia's Hall. Suitable for ages 5+. Drop-in between 10am - 4.30pm
Tai Chi taster sessions for celebrating the Spring Festival - online only sessions celebrating the Year of the Dragon with an event theme Wood Dragon Greets Spring Festival with lively movements of Dragon. 11am - 11.50pm £2.68 per person. Must be booked inadvance.
Bilingual Ceilidh will be hosted by the University of Edinburgh at St Cecilia's Hall. The event will bring the joy and breathless wonder of the traditional Scottish ceilidh with a Mandarin-speaking ceilidh caller and firm ceilidh dance favourites including Strip the Willow, Gay Gordons and Dashing White Sergeant. 6.30pm - 7.30pm £6 Student/ £9 Full price/Under 12s Free
Join The Joyful Dragon For A Happy Chinese New Year at the Assembly Rooms for a cultural extravaganza of vibrant performances, martial arts and traditional festivities including vibrant performances from Peking Opera and Folk Chinese Orchestral Ensemble. 7.30pm £22
Wednesday 14th
Chinese Lunar New Year family trail & crafts at St Cecilia's Hall. Suitable for ages 5+. Drop-in between 10am - 4.30pm
Thursday 15th
Chinese Lunar New Year family trail & crafts at St Cecilia's Hall. Suitable for ages 5+. Drop-in between 10am - 4.30pm
Friday 16th
Chinese Lunar New Year family trail & crafts at St Cecilia's Hall. Suitable for ages 5+. Drop-in between 10am - 4.30pm
Heriot-Watt University's Scottish Confucious Institute for Business & Communication hosts a Chinese New Year Concert featuring musicians from Tianjin University & Economics at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. There will also be a tea ceremony, calligraphy, Hongbao (red envelopes) before the concert begins at 6.30pm - 8.15pm £5
Which events will you be going to celebrate the Year of the Dragon in Edinburgh? You can find out more information and the links to book via www.ChineseNewYear.Scot
A few have caught my eye. So excited to be joining in the festivities, especially as my Chinese zodiac is the Dragon.
See you there!