9-meter-tall Christmas tree lighting ceremony & vintage reindeer car parade

By / Scenic Spots Home compiled report 
 
To celebrate the annual Christmas season, Hualien County in collaboration with the Hualien Methodist Bethel Baptist Church jointly hosted the “2019 Hualien Happy Christmas Town” at White Lighthouse Park, presenting a heartwarming series of eight Christmas events. On December 1st, a colorful 9-meter-tall Christmas tree was lit up, kicking off the month-long Christmas celebration in Hualien.

In addition to the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the main events will take place from December 19th to 25th. This year, the highlights of the Hualien Happy Christmas Town include Taiwan’s largest church 3D light projection show, a smart Christmas market, and a vintage reindeer car parade. Other exciting activities include Christmas concerts, lighthouse light painting, celebration events, and a midnight candlelight worship service.

The “Christmas Light Projection Show” takes “light” as its theme and symbol of happiness. Utilizing projectors with up to 30,000 lumens, the 3D projections are displayed on the walls of the Hualien Methodist Bethel Baptist Church, blending reality and fantasy. The show combines the imagery of Hualien’s mountains, sea, Hualien Harbor, as well as the cultural landscapes and scenery of Hakka and indigenous communities, presenting Hualien’s unique Christmas story in a picture-book style.

Unlike traditional Christmas markets of the past, Hualien’s Christmas market is the first—and the only one in Taiwan—where all stalls offer diverse payment options. It will be held from 6 PM on December 19th to 23rd at White Lighthouse Park, featuring over 50 booths offering local delicacies and handmade crafts.

The “Vintage Reindeer Car Parade” will take place on December 21st, gathering 200 vehicle owners from across Taiwan. Each car will be adorned with a reindeer-shaped decoration on the front, traveling along a route that starts from New Paradise Road and ends at White Lighthouse Park, passing by Pacific Park, Dongmen Night Market, Hualien Railway Cultural Park, General’s Residence, and Songyuan Detached House. The vintage cars paired with adorable decorations are sure to catch everyone’s eye.