Stilt-walking geishas and dancing dragons helped usher in the Chinese New Year.

Celebrations across the county were set to culminate in a spectacular fireworks display over the lake at the University’s Highfields Park on Sunday 6 February. Strong winds of up to 35mph meant the fireworks show couldn’t go ahead for safety reasons, although the rest of the programme continued. The fireworks display is now planned for Saturday 12 February at 6.30pm.

Events and workshops were being held across Beeston, Gedling, Nottingham and Rushcliffe to mark the arrival of the Year of the Rabbit.

Chongqing-based choreographer, dancer and teacher Rong Tao returned to Lakeside Arts Centre as dance artist-in-residence, leading creative workshops with community, student and school groups. His work with young dancers from Centres for Advanced Training across England culminated in a performance on the outdoor stage at Lakeside on Sunday 6 February.

Over the weekend of 5 and 6 February, at the Angear Visitor Centre, next to Djanogly Art Gallery, Metrot Boulot Dodo invited visitors to climb inside the Whispers Rickshaw and don a pair of headphones for an intriguing experience.

And, also at the centre on Sunday 6, members of the Notts Anaconda Dragonboat team brought their 45ft boat for visitors to climb inside.

Saturday 5 February saw a day of events in Beeston and Chilwell. Broxtowe Borough Council, in partnership with the Beeston Bid and Bartons bus company held an afternoon of interactive workshops and performances at Bartons in High Road, Chilwell.

Renowned dance artists Du Dan and Jenny Edwards – who had been working with local schoolchildren to develop a fusion of traditional Chinese and contemporary dance – were performing at Beeston Square on Saturday 5 and at Lakeside on Sunday 6.

Beeston Square also had planned traditional lion and dragon dances, a London Chinese Acrobatic Company show, stilt-walking geishas, school parades and more. Meanwhile, Gedling Borough Council and Gedling Play Forum were hosting an event in Arnot Hill Park in Arnold – traditional Chinese story-telling and arts and crafts workshops ending with a lantern parade around the lake.

Rushcliffe Borough Councils and Rushcliffe Play Forum were hosting a Chinese New Year play afternoon at West Bridgford Community Hall in Church Drive on Sunday 6 February.

Visitors to Highfields Park enjoyed entertainment from Zodiac Pyramids, dragon dancers,  Rong Tao and mcuh more.

Lakeside is also hosting a free exhibition of brush painting and calligraphy by the internationally renowned Cathy Wu (Yat Ming Ho), until Sunday 20 February at the Wallner Gallery. Visit www.lakesidearts.org.uk for details.