Macclesfield Town Council will host a large Lunar New Year celebration in Macclesfield, Cheshire, on Saturday 14 February 2026 to welcome the Year of the Horse. The town-wide event, organised by Macclesfield Town Council with support from local community arts groups and the Macclesfield Silk Museum, will feature traditional dragon dancing and live drumming and will highlight the town’s historical links to the silk trade.
The event runs from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The zodiac parade will set off from Castle Street at 11:00 AM (with drumming by Condundrum) and will pass through the town centre — including Market Place and Mill Street — with activities and workshops scheduled at locations including the United Reformed Church, Park Green and the Macclesfield Silk Museum through 3:00 PM.
Organisers have warned drivers that Castle Street will be closed to vehicular traffic for the day (the Research Dossier lists an 08:00–16:00 closure) and that rolling closures will affect Market Place and Mill Street while the parade passes. The council is advising visitors that Churchill Way car park is expected to be at capacity by midday and is directing people to Whalley Hayes and Duke Street car parks.
Community groups and the MAC Multi-Cultural Association are supporting delivery of the event, which includes a horse‑themed centerpiece to mark 2026’s zodiac animal. While the council hopes the festival will boost footfall for local retailers, some hospitality businesses have raised concerns about the effect of road closures on Valentine’s Day bookings.
Organisers say the celebration is a nod to Macclesfield’s history as a global centre for finished silk and its long-standing trading links with East Asia. The council’s materials note this is the first time the town has staged a full-scale parade for this zodiac sign since 2014.
“Bringing the Year of the Horse celebrations to Castle Street is a poetic nod to our town’s heritage. We are expecting a high turnout, and we encourage residents to use public transport as we transform the town centre into a vibrant tapestry of sound and colour,” a Macclesfield Town Council spokesperson said in a January 2026 press statement.
An anonymous Castle Street business owner expressed concern about logistics: “The logistics of a parade on Valentine’s Day are tricky. We have fully booked lunch services, and we need clarity on exactly when the barriers on Castle Street will be removed for delivery access.”
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