A grand performance brings joy to thousands at the lively Guandu Festival street parade

By / MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team

The 2016 "Guandu Festival," the largest and most popular local festival in Taipei, kicked off with a bang on Saturday, October 29th. In addition to showcasing folk art and creativity with local characteristics, this year’s event is on a grand scale. In the afternoon, 37 performance troupes will take to the streets for a lively parade, putting on impromptu shows all around Guandu’s streets and alleys, ready to light up the town with excitement.

Costumes prepared by community residents for the parade, many of which have been in the works for a long time, will make their debut, such as Guandu Elementary School mobilizing 200 adorable and energetic children dressed in migratory bird costumes to hit the streets. Local residents have also created life-sized “water buffalo” out of eco-friendly cardboard boxes, along with a three-meter-tall bear and a full-sized dragon boat—offering a dazzling array of sights.

The National Taiwan University of Arts, with over 20 years of tradition in performing folk art parades, will not be outdone. On the day of the event, they will dress up and happily dance as the characters Joy and Sadness from the animated film “Inside Out.”

The following is the schedule for the Guandu Festival events