As the golden rice waves reach harvest time, the Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival is set to kick off

▲ Coinciding with the golden rice waves harvest season, the “2013 Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival” kicks off next month. (Photo / Provided by Taitung County Government)

Reported by Travel Center / Taipei

The “2013 Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival,” one of the Twelve Major Hakka Festivals, will be grandly held from November 17 to December 1 at the Taitung County Hakka Cultural Park and next to the Ruiyuan Flower Cloth Lantern Lifestyle Culture Museum.

Taitung County Magistrate Huang Jian-ting stated that the Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival is an annual celebration for the Hakka community in eastern Taiwan, conveying the simple hospitality, care for the disadvantaged, mutual support, love for family and hometown spirit of the eastern Hakka people, while also promoting the message of “eating good rice and traveling in Taitung.” Now that the golden rice waves are in full harvest, the county government has carefully arranged a variety of Hakka cultural experiences, including micro-travel tours, cultural and creative competitions, festive harvest celebrations, Hakka specialty rice food banquets, and concerts. Fans of Hakka culture should not miss out.

Now in its fourth edition, the Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival has attracted numerous visitors interested in Hakka culture every year. In addition to sampling authentic Hakka cuisine and Taitung’s premium rice, this year’s event is themed “Planting in the Fields, Playing in the Hakka Village, Celebrating the Harvest,” featuring a series of vibrant harvest celebration activities.

2013 Taitung Good Rice Harvest Festival Event Information:

November 17 (Sun) from 7 AM to 2 PM – Chishang Harvest Celebration. In addition to the “2nd Good Rice Cup Marathon,” which has already broken registration records, 1,000 free servings of Hakka rice cake will be available for visitors. There will also be a points-based lucky draw, and special guests including Hakka music star Xiao Zhong, Taiwan’s beloved daughter-in-law Pei Chen, and Hakka hip-hop artist Xie Xuanqi will join in the harvest festivities.Surrounding activities also include the “Temple Front Kids’ Carnival,” “Hakka Fun Triathlon,” “Flower Cloth Lantern Blessing Ceremony,” and “Hakka Farming Arts Market.”

On November 23 (Sat) and 24 (Sun), two sessions of the “Hakka Top 100 Impressions – Fun Foodie Micro-Travel” one-day tours are arranged for those eager to explore the Hakka villages. For just a NT$200 registration fee, participants can visit Taitung’s Hakka attractions,with all food, fun, and activities included, plus a free Harvest Festival souvenir tote bag. Limited spots are available, and registration opens on November 1.

December 1 (Sun) from 2 PM to 5 PM – Luye Field Picnic Fun, headlined by the “Next Generation Countryside Concert”led by the Taiwan Hakka New Music Creation Association. This year’s concert will feature the Golden Melody Award-winning best Hakka album band, Dark White Collar Class, as well as Mountain Dog Big Next Generation Band, Huang Jie-wei & Old Lin Family Band, and local young Hakka singers and bands, delivering a fresh Hakka musical experience to the people of Taitung.

The “Tea & Rice Picnic” will offer 100 spots, with online registration starting November 1. For a NT$100 registration fee, participants can enjoy a DIY pounded tea rice ball meal for four, a tea tasting voucher, and a Harvest Festival picnic mat tote bag. Amidst a sea of flowers, visitors can sip afternoon tea and immerse themselves in the beauty of Hakka culture through sight, sound, and taste.

Additionally, surrounding events such as the “Charity Harvest Giving Love Activity” and “Hakka Farm Market” are also open to the public. Families are welcome to come together to admire the rice waves, explore the Hakka villages, savor authentic Hakka cuisine, and shop for Taitung’s Hakka cultural and creative products or local agricultural specialties, making this year’s Harvest Festival even richer and more enjoyable.