Travel Weekly / Forget the Rainy Weekend — Kaohsiung’s “Big Balloon Parade” Takes to the Streets

Travel Center / Reported from Taipei

Today (7th), temperatures have finally risen, but tomorrow may bring wet and cold weather again. This is the perfect time to join a lively event and sweep the gloomy weather aside. This Sunday’s balloon parade will stretch for 1 kilometer and promises to be lively and spectacular. If you want to avoid the rain and opt for indoor activities, consider visiting the special exhibition of *Life of Pi* or the 3D illusion art show to immerse yourself in endless imagination. For a taste of Christmas spirit, take a short trip to New Taipei City and stroll through Christmas Town to experience the festive splendor.


▲ The Big Balloon Parade is Asia’s only balloon festival, and cartoon-character balloons have always been a major draw. (Photo / Courtesy of City Pass)

[Kaohsiung Times Avenue Big Balloon Parade]
The Big Balloon Parade is Asia’s only balloon festival, and cartoon-character balloons have always been a major draw, attracting large crowds every year. This year’s event is themed “The World Comes to Kaohsiung,” creating a joyful atmosphere of global unity. In addition to the usual Open将 family members, Angry Birds, Hello Kitty, Doraemon, Powerpuff Girls, SpongeBob, Patrick Star, and the Uni-President Lions, 30 balloon formations will also feature for the first time popular characters loved by children such as Pleasant Goat, Pretty Goat, Wolffy, and Dora, as well as classic Disney figures like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Winnie the Pooh. The afternoon will be the best time for family fun across Taiwan.

Besides the adorable floating balloons, the ground performances are equally spectacular. The reunited girl group S.H.E will make a dazzling appearance in princess costumes, riding in a carriage to meet the public up close. Other highlights include a thrilling opening by heavy-duty motorcycles, cute appearances by VW Beetles and Mini Cooper convoys, static displays of light aircraft, as well as over 20 performance groups including cosplay, marching bands, cheerleaders, indigenous dance troupes, and samba drummers. The 1-kilometer-long carnival parade will leave everyone dazzled.

Event Time: Starts at 13:30 on December 9, 2012
Event Location: Kaohsiung Times Avenue (Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung City, Times Avenue)

[New Taipei City Christmas Town – Christmas Events]

▲ New Taipei City’s Christmas tree has been lit up. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Tourism Bureau)

The “2012 New Taipei City Christmas Town” kicks off joyfully and runs until January 6. This year’s theme is “Love Together,” with decorations extending from last year’s Xinzhuang Special Zone to Wanping Park, using more than twice as many LED lights as last year. The most anticipated Christmas tree this year features a full-color LED screen, making it the tallest and only LED Christmas tree in Taiwan. Each light can display 256 colors, and with varying shades and animated effects such as snowflakes, lasers, flowing animations, and beams of light, it creates the illusion of thousands of Christmas trees.

Event Time: October 24, 2012 – February 24, 2013, 9:00 – 17:00
Event Location: New Taipei City Civic Plaza (No. 161, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City)

[Special Exhibition: *Life of Pi* – The Fantasy Voyage]
Co-organized by the National Museum of Natural Science, the Taichung City Government, and 20th Century Fox, the *Life of Pi* Special Exhibition runs from now until February 24, 2013, at the National Museum of Natural Science’s 3D Theater Lobby. It features never-before-seen exclusive movie behind-the-scenes footage, illustrations from the original novel, a variety of survival tools from the film, as well as realistic drifting simulations and interactive games that transport visitors into the fantastical world of the movie.

Event Time: December 1, 2012 – January 6, 2013, 9:00 – 22:00
Event Location: New Taipei City Civic Plaza (No. 161, Section 1, Zhongshan Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City)

[Fantasy Illusion World: 3D Illusion Art Exhibition]
Illusion art utilizes “perspective,” “shading,” and the clever combination of “advancing and receding colors,” along with the latest holographic art and light refraction, to create a visual perception where reality and illusion merge, delivering a surprising and astounding experience. It is an art form that blends perspective, design, geometry, and psychology. With fun and interactive innovations, it provides visitors with a joyful platform for second creations.

Event Time: December 8, 2012 – March 30, 2013, 10:00 – 18:00
Event Location: Taichung World Trade Center (No. 60, Tianbao Street, Xitun District, Taichung City)