Chinese New Year celebrations will take place from 3 to 6 February 2011 on Freedom Square in Tallinn and Peetri Square in Narva. In both cities about 40 artists from China will perform together with artists from Korea, Mexico, Russia, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. There will be an exhibition of ice sculptures with video- and light installations, fireworks with music and traditional Chinese flying sky lanterns.

In the centres of Tallinn and Narva big main stages will be erected where artists from Beijing Opera and acrobats will be performing as well as the original Chinese Dragon dancers. In the tunnel gallery of the Freedom Square a photo exhibition will open about Chinese New Year. All open air events are free of charge. In addition there will be concerts of the Chinese punk band The Subs on 4 February in Genialistide klubi in Tartu and on 5 February in club Rockstars in Tallinn.

The organisers expect thousands of people to attend the carnival. ”The four day event will bring authentic Chinese New Year’s celebrations straight to Estonia. Flying sky lanterns, performances by Chinese artists and dragon dancers and many other events offer memorable experiences to grownups and children alike,” says the organiser of the main event, Valeri Gramakovski of Kuusk OÜ.

”Celebrating Chinese New Year in Tallinn is the result of long term cooperation between the municipal governments of Beijing and Tallinn. The Chinese New Year has been celebrated in Tallinn several times but due to the European Capital of Culture year it will be a bigger four day event,” comments Anu Kivilo, the head of Tallinn Heritage Board.

The four days include many exciting events:

3 February – opening of ice sculptures at Freedom Square and Chinese New Year’s photo exhibition in the tunnel gallery at 18.00-19.00.

The sculptures are made by artists from Korea, Mexico, Finland, Lithuania, Russia and Estonia. There will be Dragon dance performance, fire circus and fireworks with music. Traditional Chinese flying sky lanterns will be flown to the sky.

4 February – punk band The Subs performs in Genialistide klubi in Tartu as part of Jägermeister Rock League. Doors open at 21, bands will start at 22.

5 February – Chinese New Year’s carnival on Tallinn Freedom Square at 17-19. The event will be opened by the mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar and Chinese ambassador Huang Zhongpo. 40 artists from Beijing will perform: Beijing opera Fenglei, martial arts dancers, Dragon dancers, fireworks. There are food outlets and souvenir stalls.

5 February – punk band The Subs performs in Rockstars club in Tallinn as part of Louis Fontaine concert, doors open at 21.

6 February - Chinese New Year’s carnival on Narva’s Peetri Square. Forty artists from Beijing will perform: Beijing opera, martial arts dancers, Dragon dancers, fireworks. There are food outlets and souvenir stalls. Carnival on Narva’s Peetri Square takes place from 17.00 – 19.00.

Tickets for the concert of punk band The Subs cost 5€. All other events free of charge.