Organisers gear up for even bigger Maidenhead Lunar New Year celebrations

Organisers of the popular Lunar New Year celebrations in Maidenhead town centre are gearing up for an even bigger event next weekend.

The Eagle Claw Kung Fu School, based in Portlock Road, has been organising the much-loved festivities for the last 23 years.

But this year, the school is partnering with the Royal Borough to expand the event, which will be moving from the High Street to St Ives Road.

Julian Dale, owner of the Eagle Claw Kung Fu School, said: “As much as I love the High Street for the parade – I mean it was just wonderful being so up close and personal – we’ve kind of outgrown it now.

“We’re getting up to 2,500 to 3,000 people coming to watch the parade every year now, so we need a little bit more space.”

Between noon and 3pm on Saturday, February 1, visitors will enjoy a bumper programme of live entertainment and stalls.

Guests will once again be treated to the popular lion dance with firecrackers from 12.30pm.

“It’s the highlight of the event,” said Julian.

“We have 36 members of our school out – so we have children, we have teenagers, we have adults.

“We’ll have four lions, all the musicians, the flags, the banners, the big-headed Buddha, the money god,” Julian added.

This year, visitors will enjoy even more attractions with a street food amrket also planned for the occasion.

At Maidenhead Library, the Windsor Chinese School will be carrying out calligraphy for the public.

People will wear traditional Chinese costumes and children will sing traditional Chinese songs.

This year will mark the start of the Year of the Wood Snake. The wood represents growth and the snake represents transformation, Julian explained.

He added: “It [the event] brings together the Chinese community, but it also brings Chinese culture to a very wide spectrum of people of all ages, races, genders and everything.

“It gives people the taste of Chinese New Year where they may not experience it before and it’s the largest in the whole of Berkshire, there’s nothing like it.”

Sharing his hopes for the event, he said: “To attract more people.

“To create a bigger event, that is even more inclusive and a greater experience for everybody, beyond just the lion dance performance.”

He added: “There is a longer-term plan now to grow the Chinese New Year event to include lots more elements and aspects of Chinese culture.

“I have a plan in place with Robyn [town centre manager Robyn Bunyan] that over the next few years we’re really going to try and develop it further.”

The team will also be performing the lion dance in Windsor at 3pm on the same day.

The Eagle Claw Kung Fu School is a full time, Maidenhead-based Chinese martial arts school which was first established in 1997.

Julian has asked any local celebrities who would like to attend the event to get in touch at: info@eagleclaw.uk

Any stallholders interested in participating at the event are asked to contact maidenhead.tm@rbwm.gov.uk for more information or to obtain an event application form.