Record crowd for Chinese New Year Celebrations in Worcester

Organisers believe this year's event will be the biggest yet as an estimated 1,000 people turned out for the celebrations at the Museum of Royal Worcester.

Visitors of all ages flocked to the region to enjoy the family-fun event and get a flavour for Chinese culture.

There were plenty of activities for people to get stuck into, ranging from arts and crafts, painting, drawing, Chinese literacy and traditional Chinese tea making.

Zunirah Abid found painting a fun activity (Image: Newsquest)

The main attraction was the Lion dance performed by Kui de Tang, a Kung Fu school, which took place on Severn Street for the first time.

Sophie Heath, director of the Museum of Royal Worcester, was thrilled to see the event had drawn in large crowds once again.

"We have once again grown this year so we are delighted to see so many people have come out for the day and learn through the different activities that are on offer," she said.

"The dragon dance is a fantastic part of the event and it's all about trying to get people to have a lovely day.

"It's nice to involve the community and use the whole site to put on the event."

Willow Mason gets stuck in with some drawing (Image: Newsquest)

One of the event's main partners is Engage with China, an educational charity that builds China literacy in UK schools.

H-J Colston-Inge, who is director of Engage with China, said: "The I charity represent is all about building a cultural understanding between China and the UK.

"To see so many hundreds of people, we think 1,000, just shows the general public is thirsty to soak up Chinese culture and to have an event in the heart of the city is brilliant for community cohesion."

Sharon Jones, partner Richard Morris and grandson Jude Howarth, painting pottery (Image: Newsquest)

Students learning Mandarin at Christopher Whitehead Language College in Worcester were once again involved in activities.

Abbie Lu, who teaches the language at the school, said students go every year to the event and that it was a "great opportunity to get involved with Chinese activities".

Kay Mullett, heritage engagement officer at the Museum of Royal Worcester, said that people had "taken the spirit" of the event and that it had proved "very popular".

2024 is the Year of the Dragon, which is the fifth of the 12-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac calendar.