Lunar Celebrations Hit Warrington

What a cracking day out in Time Square last Sunday!

Warrington Hongkongers CIC teamed up with Warrington Market for our town’s inaugural Lunar New Year Market, kicking off at 10am with cultural fusion at its finest—lion dances, street food stalls, calligraphy, carnival games, face painting, and a massive wishing tree for all our hopes in the Year of the Horse.

Organised right here by our growing Hong Kong community, it drew crowds celebrating traditions like Fai Chun red papers for luck and joy, plus kids’ activities with horse and fish stencils symbolizing prosperity.

Voices from the Crowd

Andrea Morley, Project Manager for We Are Warrington BID, shared the logistics:

“This is its third year… overwhelming this year since partnering with Warrington Hongkongers. We’ve supported marketing on Facebook/Instagram and funding activities—our levy from town centre businesses fuels events like this.” She added, “We don’t go it alone—partnering with Council, Golden Square, and Warrington Market via monthly steering groups makes it all happen.”

I chatted with Charlotte Nichols, MP for Warrington North, who was braving the chill: “It’s really brilliant to see the whole community come together… the Hong Kong community enriches every part of our town’s cultural life.” She even tried the Mahjong challenge before diving into the food stalls!

Councillor Mo Hussain, our Mayor, nailed why it matters: “Warrington is fantastic because of our diversity… Events like this boost culture, the economy, and small businesses post-COVID—everyone’s faces were beaming.”

From Cobo Kids, running the stencil station: “These are Fai Chun for spring luck—kids love the horse for the Year of the Horse or fish; adults pick words like ‘fortune’ (fook). We teach Cantonese from toddlers to A-levels too.”

Even the Warrington Police Museum crew, fresh off a King’s Award for Voluntary Service, was there building bridges: Peter Hampson explained, “Hong Kongers are part of Warrington now—we’re engaging to build trust and keep our community safe.”

Why It Rocked for Warrington

This packed footfall into the town centre, supporting local spots amid tough times. Shoutout to partners like Warrington BID, Council, and more for making it happen, with MPs and performers joining the party. If you missed it, catch the vibes next year—Warrington’s event calendar just levelled up.

Head over to our Facebook page for all the Lunar New Year videos and more behind-the-scenes action from the day!