Stockport will be welcoming the Lunar New Year in style this February, with a massive festival featuring markets, music, and more.

From Saturday 7 - Sunday 8 February, the Merseyway shopping centre will be transformed into a scene from East Asia, replete with around 50 market traders, plus a plethora of live performers.

Running from 9am-5pm each day, the stalls will be purveying everything from delicious food through to homeware and gifts.

In terms of food, visitors can expect cuisine from Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia, plus some other pan-Asian offerings.

There will also be street snacks - think noodle and rice dishes, bubble tea, grilled items, and desserts.

As for the non-food traders, there will be traditional craft items (such as lanterns and calligraphy sets), art and prints, fashion and accessories, and books, to name a few.

And as well as the traders, you can expect to enjoy music from talented players of traditional instruments, plus a vibrant and energetic Lion Dance performance to open the festival, symbolising luck, strength, and new beginnings. 

Details for this year's Lunar New Year Festival in Stockport (Image - EatGoodWest)

The event is being organised by EatGoodWest - the same team behind the regular East Asian markets in St Mary's Church, and last year's Moon Festival.

Regulars of the market might see a few familiar stalls at this festival, plus some newcomers. In any case, all vendors will be fully vetted to ensure quality, authenticity, and compliance with trading standards. 

The Lunar New Year is celebrated in East Asian Cultures. Unlike the new year in the UK and other western countries, it's calculated based on the movement of the moon (as opposed to the sun).

Like Christmas, it's often celebrated with markets and gift-giving.

The organisers at EatGoodWest said the aim with this Lunar New Year Festival was to bring a little piece of Asia to this corner of the Pennines.

"In places like Hong Kong, Lunar New Year markets are filled with festive food, flowers, decorations, and music, a place to meet friends and soak up the festive atmosphere", they explained.

"We want to bring that same feeling to Stockport: a lively, family-friendly market full of sights, sounds, and flavours that capture the excitement of the season."

This year is the Year of the Horse, symbolising strength, independence, and perseverance.