Kaohsiung Lantern Festival’s Thousand-Person Float Carnival & Love River Fireworks Spectacular Shine on Lantern Night

By MOOK Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

Carrying lanterns and parading the streets on Lantern Night is a cherished childhood memory for many. To revive the joy of celebrating with lanterns, the Kaohsiung City Government will host the “Love Happiness ~ Grand Float Parade” at 7:00 PM on Valentine’s Day, February 14, by closing off the roundabout at Zhonghua Wufu Road. The event will feature over 20 corporate groups, military bands, color guards, and various performance troupes, along with themed floats from E-DA Rhinos, EVA Air, Transformers, Life of Pi, FTV’s new drama “Dragon Phoenix Dance,” and Fo Guang Shan. With over a thousand performers and traditional acts from Ashikaga (Japan) and Busan (South Korea)—sister cities of Kaohsiung—the parade will create an unforgettable, dazzling Lantern Festival float carnival.

The parade will proceed along Wufu Road, turn right onto Hexing Road, and arrive at the Love River, where attendees can enjoy the “Lantern Night Fireworks: Love on the Love River” show at 9:00 PM. As Valentine’s Day coincides with Lantern Festival this year, the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau will distribute 20,000 “Happy Horse” mini lanterns along Wufu Road (from Zhonghua to Chenggong Road sections). The public is invited to join the lantern parade and celebrate Lantern Night together.

 

Xu Chuan-sheng, Director of the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau, said this year’s Lantern Festival district has expanded to collaborate with urban areas and shopping malls for marketing, and will feature an opening street-closing parade, heralding the festival’s climax. This year, the event especially takes citizens on a trip down memory lane, reliving the glory of past parades. Amid the cool spring festival nights, sparkling floats and marching bands will create a carnival-like celebration—more spectacular than ever. The bureau also strongly encourages families to bring children along to experience the tradition of lantern parades. Coinciding with Valentine’s Day, it’s the perfect occasion for friends to stroll the streets together and for couples to enjoy a romantic Lantern Night.

 

At 6:00 PM that evening, the parade’s starting point at the Zhonghua Wufu Road roundabout will gather a thousand people for a community mochi-making activity. By sticking mochi onto the 2014 emblem and posting a photo, participants can receive a mini lantern and fried tangyuan (sweet rice balls), plus join a scratch-card lottery with chances to win premium skincare products from Dali Department Store and restaurant vouchers. At the parade’s endpoint by the Love River, couples will be invited to take part in the “Love You for a Lifetime Kiss 99” event to pledge their love, with mini lanterns given to participants. The PK winners who kiss the longest will receive extra prizes like free hotel stays.

 

The “Love Happiness Grand Float Parade” begins at 7:00 PM from the Zhonghua Wufu Road roundabout, travels along Wufu 3rd Road, turns onto Hexing Road, and ends at Aoyue Longxiang. There will be two stationary performances—one at the start and one at the finish. Additionally, to encourage public participation, the Kaohsiung City Government will distribute Happy Horse mini lanterns along Wufu Road (Zhonghua to Chenggong Road sections) from 7:00–7:30 PM. After getting their lanterns, people can immediately join the parade, enjoy the illuminated floats, and watch the 6-minute “Lantern Night Fireworks: Love on the Love River” show at 9:00 PM by the Love River.

 

Traffic control measures will be implemented in phases around the parade route on the day of the event. Parking spaces nearby will also be regulated to accommodate parade preparations and float parking. The Kaohsiung City Government asks for the public’s understanding and cooperation with these traffic controls. Please plan ahead, leave early, and take advantage of public transport like the MRT and buses to reach the event. For detailed event information, visit the official website of the 2014 Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Art Festival.

 

 

●  Read More:

Kaohsiung Lantern Festival Fun Guide: “Happy Horse” Mini Lanterns Given Away for Lantern Night

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