Wed. Dec 25th, 2024

To mark the Chinese New Year of the Dog over the half-term, Westfield presents a programme of children’s activities across its two London centres, enabling families to experience the ancient holiday in an authentic, modern way.

Traditions differ, but the main message of Chinese New Year is for families to come together and wish each other peace and prosperity for the year ahead. Taking inspiration from traditions, Westfield has tailored its experiences to create a hub of activities for all families celebrating in the UK.

Engaging families and visitors at both centres, the theme will be around ‘finding your Fu’ – or welcoming all good things in life with five supporting elements: Good Food, Good Looks, Good Family Times, Good Living and Good Health. Westfield will host free hourly kid’s workshops for 30 minutes enabling a hands-on approach to a range of Chinese traditions.

The children’s sessions range from the customary art of red envelope decorating, fortune cookie decorating, tea making workshops to money tree seed planting and face painting. These will be taking place at Westfield London on the first floor outside lululemon and at Westfield Stratford City on the first floor outside John Lewis.  There is no need to sign up – families can turn up to each session on first come, first served basis.

Westfield’s Chief Marketing Officer, Myf Ryan, comments: “This year, we will be hosting a very special lineup of Chinese New Year celebrations across Westfield London and Westfield Stratford City. We want to give families the unique opportunity to learn more about this Chinese festival through a range of authentic experiences with customs and traditions.  The Chinese year of the dog is often recognised as being loyal to your community so let’s take this opportunity to embrace and celebrate the diversity of cultures.”

The Westfield Chinese New Year experiences are available on top of the 696 retail, dining and entertainment opportunities at Westfield’s centres, offering luxurious and innovative ways to discover the latest trends and technologies. Making visitors’ experiences as seamless as possible, both spacious centres are bolstered by a full portfolio of in-centre services, including hands-free shopping, valet parking, the Fashion Lounge, and smart parking.

Westfield’s Chinese New Year programme begins 15 February. Join the conversation and share your celebrations in-centre at @westfieldlondon and @westfieldstratfordcity using #chinesenewyear

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By Penny McCarthy

Penny McCarthy is a seasoned entrepreneur and co-founder of Parents News UK, a pioneering publication launched in 1993 to serve the needs of busy parents in Southwest London. Alongside her husband, Fergus McCarthy, Penny played a crucial role in the rapid expansion of the printed edition, which grew from a local startup to a widely circulated monthly publication with a reach of 192,000 copies across Kent, South London, and beyond. Under Penny’s leadership, Parents News quickly became a trusted resource for families, providing valuable information on education, entertainment, sports, and family-friendly events. Her vision helped the publication extend its influence with franchises in Northern Ireland and Cornwall, catering to a growing demand for accessible, family-oriented content. In 1997, recognising the importance of digital media, Penny spearheaded the launch of Parents News UK Online. The website initially mirrored the content of the printed editions and has since evolved into a comprehensive online resource for parents, achieving significant popularity with up to 700 daily hits. In 2017, the publication transitioned fully to an online platform, continuing to inform and engage families across the UK. Today, Penny remains deeply involved in the ongoing success of Parents News UK, focusing on innovative advertising opportunities and future growth plans. Her dedication to supporting families through accessible and practical content has made Parents News a cherished name in households across the country.

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