Keelung Ghost Festival / 3D Water Dance & Float Parade Turn Keelung Into a City That Never Sleeps

▲ The Keelung Ghost Festival takes over downtown, drawing huge crowds and turning the city into a lively nocturnal scene. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

Reported by Reporters You t
ru and Chen Ziying / Keelung

This year (102) marks the 159th anniversary of the Keelung Ghost Festival. On the 20th, the Ghost Festival parade in downtown Keelung was led by the Xie family clan as this year’s presiding surname, with clan associations parading through the city streets. The event featured not only fireworks but also a water dance performance, with floats flooding the streets in a grand spectacle. Later at 11 PM, various surname clan associations went to Wanghai Lane for the annual “Floating Lantern Release” event.

Each year, the Keelung Ghost Festival attracts attention with innovative ideas. This year, the presiding Xie family clan association arranged laser water screens, fireworks, 3D water dances, as well as an earlierGhost Trainevent. The entire festival not only retained traditional cultural elements but also embraced a novel, youthful atmosphere. On Ghost Festival day, the whole of Keelung was bustling with activity, as various lighted floats, flower floats, performance troupes, government and school parade teams all took part, transforming the city into a nightlife hotspot.

 
▲ This year’s presiding Xie family clan association leads the parade. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

 
▲ Stilt walkers “tower above the crowd.” (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)


▲ A continuous stream of festive floats. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)


▲ A dragon passing through a ring of fire symbolizes good fortune. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

 
▲ The colorful dragon body also spouts bursts of flames. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)


▲ Artist Janet participated in the parade, and cheerleading performances were also held. (Photo / Reporter You t
ru)

The highlight of the entire Keelung Ghost Festival is the “Floating Lantern Release” event. According to tradition, this custom is meant to provide “departed spirits” who have emerged from the Ghost Gate with homes to live in and money to spend in the afterlife. Thus, elaborately made paper houses are created, filled with paper money. Tradition dictates that before midnight on the 14th day of the lunar month, the houses and wealth intended for the spirits must be burned at sea to complete the ritual. Because of this, the entire ceremony is both elaborate and strictly observed, which only adds to its allure.