Chinese New Year celebrations in Maidenhead

The event is now it its 17th year - organised between the Maidenhead Town Partnership, the Eagle Claw Kung Fu School UK from Maidenhead and the local Chinese association.

The High Street will come alive to bright colourful and loud sounds of thunder drumming and five Chinese Lions with a full entourage of musicians and prefer to bring in the Chinese Year of the Rat 2020.

This annual parade is a firm fixture for the annual calendar bringing thousands of people to watch and enjoy the celebrations.

Starting at 1pm from the Boy in the Boat at top of the High Street the Lion dance team from the Eagle Claw Kung Fu School will parade down the High Street. A beat of the Drum will start off the traditional Burst of Chinese fire crackers.

Steph James, Maidenhead town manager, says: "The Chinese New Year celebrations in Maidenhead are an occasion not to be missed with lots of noise and colour filling the High Street. Come down and enjoy all the fun of Chinese New Year".

Each year the kung fu school work hard all year long with the instructors giving up their time free to coach the Lion Dance team every Saturday, all the Chinese lions and equipment are imported direct from China at great expense, repairs and upkeep are all done in house.

Great effort is made to bring this unique cultural experience to people of all ages, gender, nationality and religion so we can help create cultural diversity and social harmony.

The Kung Fu school Lion dance team operates as a not for profit venture with proceeds going back into equipment, training costs, ancillaries and transport - bringing up to 35 people to perform each year with all the equipment and costs.

Anyone wishing to help sponsor the event please contact organiser Julian Dale. Call 01628 780743 or email info@eagleclawkungfu.uk