Traditional lion dance welcomes Chinese New Year in Downham Market
A traditional Chinese lion dance entertained crowds in Downham this week as the town held its annual Chinese New Year celebrations.
Around 230 children from Nelson Academy and Downham Preparatory School and Montessori Nursery gathered in the Town Square on Tuesday morning to watch the performance marking the year of the pig.
A spokeswoman for Downham Market Town Council, which organises the annual event, said: “It went really well, the children absolutely loved it.
“They were laughing along and clearly enjoying it.”
Mayor David Sharman and deputy mayor John Doyle watched the performance, which also brought members of the public to the town square.
Music was provided during the event, with drums and cymbals keeping the beat of the dance.
There was not one, but two lion costumes on the town square, though, as children from Downham Preparatory School brought along their 100-year-old version, and a “cuddly pig” to help mark the year of the pig from the Chinese zodiac.
The council said each child who attended the event was given a fortune cookie to take away.
