Go Kids

Chinese new year:It's the start of the Chinese year of the rabbit, and in Dublin, the two-week long celebration to mark the new year and organised by Dublin City Council has been in full swing since Tuesday.

This is the 4,709th year in the Chinese calendar and the year of the rabbit is traditionally a lucky one.

Today is the big day in the festival with a Chinese carnival taking place from noon to 5pm in Wolfe Tone Park, Jervis Street. It’s not Dublin’s best known park but it’s a lovely open space at the Mary Street end of Jervis Street in the city centre.

There will be Chinese food and craft stalls, authentic Chinese performances with dragon and lion dances, tai chi and martial arts displays, special musical and dance entertainment performing traditional and contemporary Chinese music and acts, and a Chinese rock band.

Drop into the Library Learning Bus which will be parked in the square and which will host a series of storytelling, crafts and animation starting at noon with stories about Chinese new year for younger children with Patricia Campbell.

If you can’t make it into the square, check your local library because most Dublin libraries will be hosting Chinese new year themed readings to mark the celebrations.

For more details see dublin.ie/cny