Macclesfield, Cheshire, will host a large cultural festival on Saturday 7 February 2026 to celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Fire Horse. The event runs from 11:30 to 17:30 and is organised by the ESEA (East and Southeast Asian) Community Centre in collaboration with local volunteer groups, bringing residents together for a day of free performances and family activities.
The celebration will take place across the town centre, with main activities at Castle Street, Market Place and The Silk Museum. Visitors can expect to see a traditional zodiac parade featuring the large zodiac animals created by Macclesfield Community ArtSpace (with volunteer support), alongside lion dances and drumming from the Conundrum drumming group.
Organisers say the festival highlights the town’s silk heritage and its historical links to global silk production — a connection the town promotes through The Silk Museum. By hosting the event ten days before the official Lunar New Year (which falls on 17 February 2026), the community aims to create a dedicated space for local families to learn about East and Southeast Asian cultures through craft workshops such as calligraphy and paper-cutting.
Local reports, say previous years have attracted up to 10,000 people to Macclesfield’s Lunar New Year celebrations. The festival is supported by community grants, Macclesfield Town Council and a large team of local volunteers who work to keep entertainment free or low-cost for residents.
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