MANCHESTER’S Chinese community has been busy putting the final details to all the arrangements for this weekend’s New Year parade and celebrations.

This year is the Year of The Ox and so is dedicated to hard work and prosperity. The volunteers who help make the annual event the colourful spectacle that an estimated 60,000 people will flock to see on Sunday have been working for months to make sure that everything is in place.

Tyze Kai Tai Li from the Federation of Chinese Association is Manchester said there were a lot of preparations going behind the scene to organise road closures, public safety issues, arrange performers and secure sponsorship to foot the £130,000 bill for the event.

You can see some of the finishing touches being made to the guest of honour - the Ox – and find out more about the year ahead, see this short video clip.

The spectacular Golden Dragon Parade will appear in Albert Square at 12.30pm and at 1pm will wind its way to Chinatown, before making its way back to Albert Square.
The official celebrations end with a stunning firework finale in Chinatown at 6pm (approx). The full details of the timings of the parade are available here .

If you are attending the event, don’t forget to share you pictures of at our dedicated Flickr group here.