Macclesfield will welcome in the Year of the Horse next month.

The Town Council has announced plans to mark the Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 14.

Celebrations will get underway at 11am on Castle Street with a traditional dragon dance, followed by a drumming display from Conundrum.

At 11:30am the dragon, drummers and zodiac animals created over the years by ArtSpace will parade down to Park Green, where at midday, the doors to the United Reform Church will be thrown open.

There, members of the public will be invited to take part in free craft sessions and sample Chinese food (available until stocks run out). 

Meanwhile, the Silk Museum will be sharing hosting duties with a variety of free activities.

Macclesfield Town Council's town centre manager Abi Sherratt said: "The town council have a fantastic programme of events planned for this year, and by making these events and the workshops free for the public to attend, we hope that they bring more people into the town who will then pop into the shops afterwards or buy some lunch. 

"We are constantly amazed at all the people who come out to support out events, and the Lunar New Celebrations are extremely popular."

The parade will begin at 11.30am (Credit: MTC)

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Free-to-ride buses will be running throughout the day courtesy of the town council.

Services included in the scheme include D&G Bus routes 10, 19 and 19A and High Peak Bus routes 14, 14A.