IT'S one of the biggest parties of the year.

This weekend, hundreds will head to Southampton to celebrate Chinese New Year welcoming in the Year of the Pig.

The UK Shaolin Temple have teamed up with Solent University and the Confucius Institute at Southampton University to organise the event on Saturday and the Chinese Association of Southampton will host an event on Sunday.

Founder of UK Shaolin Temple, Shi Yan Min said: “Our aim is to set the city alight with colour, fun, talent, understanding and unity through the celebrations.

"The pig is a symbol of abundance, peace and prosperity and so this year is predicted to be lucky.”

On Saturday an event will take place at Southampton Guildhall Square and will kick-off with a Lion dance outside the Marlands shopping centre on Above Bar Street at 11.30am.

At 1.30pm Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Stephen Barnes-Andrews, will officially open the celebrations by 'Waking the Lion'.

Saturday will include the traditional Lion and Dragon dances as well as martial arts and acrobatics, Chinese music and dance, Bollywood dancers and the Tamasha Japanese drummers.

The Noodle Bar will have a pop-up stand to help fuel the celebrations and The Artisan Café will host workshops in traditional arts including making paper lanterns and dragons, Chinese calligraphy, yoga and meditation.

Volunteer at the UK Shaolin Temple, Candy Lame, said: "It's such a big, massive event we are very excited but it is a lot of work!

"It will be a multicultural extravaganza.

"It will be a platform for the community to come together and celebrate multiculturalism."

She added: "You will get to see the acrobatics and kung-fu first hand on the day.

"Everyone is well trained for the performance.

"I just hope the weather is good!"

On Sunday the Chinese Association of Southampton will celebrate the New Year in Westquay shopping centre in Southampton.

The event will start at 11am with speeches and a Lion dance followed by traditions songs, dance and a martial arts performance until 2pm.

Chinese New Year is the Chinese festival celebrating the new year, which begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice and ends on the full moon fifteen days later.

It is marked by visits to family and friends, special meals, fireworks, and gift giving.