Organisers of the Chinese New Year celebrations in Maidstone will be hoping the Year of the Ox will bring us all some much-needed prosperity.

The New Year, which starts on Monday, January 26, will be celebrated throughout the town centre on the weekend of Saturday, January 24, and Sunday, January 25.

There will be lion dancing around the town, while a variety of children’s activities, including making paper fans and paper lanterns, will be held in The Mall Chequers, between 11am and 4pm both days. There will also be a Chinese calligrapher on hand to demonstrate the art.

It is the second year the event has been organised by the Maidstone Cultural Group, but this year promises to be bigger and better, with sponsorship from Kala Red in Bank Street; Town Centre Management; Maidstone council; Maidstone police and donations from borough councillors Fran Wilson, Brian Vizzard, Brian Mortimer, Colin Parr and Julia Batt.

Michael Lam, owner of Kala Red and a member of the cultural group, said: “It is the Year of the Ox, so with the celebration we wish to bring luck and fortune into the town centre.”

Dennis Edwards, project co-ordinator, said: “We are celebrating the Chinese New Year so that people can learn about the Chinese culture and for people to dance and celebrate with the Chinese.”