Sunday 5 February Medway celebrates the Year of the Dog This year's Chinese New Year Parade will be led by the Mayor or Medway, Councillor Ken Webber and the Deputy Chinese Ambassador. The parade will feature four Chinese dragons, four Chinese lions (including Medway's silver medal-winning team from the Shanghai Lion Tournament 2004) and more than 250 people dressed in authentic Chinese costumes. The parade will start at 11am outside the Visitor Information Centre in Rochester High Street and will travel east into Chatham town centre, where it will end outside the Kut O Association (near the Luton Arches end of the High Street). The parade will be followed by a colourful display of lion and dragon dancing between 12 noon and 12.45pm. There will then be a break in the programme to allow time to enjoy lunch in one of Medway’s many international restaurants or for shopping in Chatham. Chinese Cultural Show - Splendid China (The Central Theatre at 2.30pm) After lunch there will be a New Year celebration show at the Central Theatre, Chatham entitled Splendid China, which will feature two stars from Hong Kong who will be presenting highlights from Cantonese opera, as well as stage performances of dragon and lion dancing, Chinese pop and culture as well as traditional Chinese folk dances. Tickets are £8.50 or £7.50 (concessions £1 off each ticket) with one free ticket per party of 10 people.