Maidstone Town Centre Welcomes the Lunar New Year with Vibrant Celebrations

Maidstone Town Centre came alive on Saturday 21st February as residents and visitors gathered to celebrate Lunar New Year in a colourful display of culture, community and tradition.

The proceedings were officially opened by Gurvinder Sandher MBE DL, who warmly welcomed attendees to the festivities. In his address, he expressed his gratitude to Maidstone Cultural Group and Maidstone Borough Council and Arts Council England for their continued partnership and support in organising the event for a fourth consecutive year. He highlighted the importance of bringing people together, regardless of cultural background, to share in the celebrations and strengthen community bonds.

Deputy Lieutenant Andrew Wood DL was also on hand to greet members of the public. Speaking about the significance of the Year of the Horse, he reflected on the qualities it represents — strength, energy and prosperity — and the positive spirit it brings for the year ahead. The Mayor of Maidstone Cllr Martin Round was also in attendance and welcomed all to the special celebrations.

The celebrations were officially declared open with the traditional “marking of the Lions” ceremony, a symbolic ritual that awakens the lions and ushers in good fortune for the New Year. The spectacle captivated the crowd and set the tone for a dynamic afternoon of performances.

An exciting artistic programme followed, featuring traditional Chinese Tea Room music performed by SOAS University of London, high-energy Dancing Lions by Kudos Combat, and a graceful traditional dance performance by Wei He. Jose Navarro put on an interactive show of traditional Chinese puppets thrilling onlookers.

The celebrations were warmly received, with families and visitors of all ages enjoying the performances, cultural displays and vibrant atmosphere. The event once again demonstrated Maidstone’s commitment to embracing global traditions and celebrating diversity within the local community.

Organisers expressed their delight at the strong turnout and positive feedback, noting that the annual Lunar New Year celebration has become a much-anticipated highlight in Maidstone’s cultural calendar.

Gurvinder Sandher Artistic Director of Cohesion Plus commented, “Celebrating Lunar New Year gives us a wonderful opportunity to learn from one another and to appreciate the rich traditions that make up our community. When we come together across cultures to mark global celebrations like this, we build understanding, strengthen friendships and create a real sense of belonging. Events like today remind us that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. We would like to thank our event partners and civic guests for their continued support as well as all the many attendees who braved the weather to come and celebrate with us.”