Enjoy tea, watch performances, collect stamps for gifts — Taichung’s Lakeside Rhapsody weekend kicks off

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported by Chen Guanxin

 

Residents in the Taichung area now have a new weekend option besides family outings. The 102nd Lakeside Pavilion Holiday Plaza at Taichung Park — the Lakeside Rhapsody event — is set to begin tomorrow (the 12th) from 15:00 to 16:30 around the Lakeside Pavilion and will launch traditional opera, music, and other performance programs on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The event also includes cultural and creative sales booths, street performers, stamp-collecting gift activities, and offers tea beverages, allowing the public to enjoy performances and afternoon tea in Taichung Park, which has a history of over 100 years, and also take home great gifts.

This year’s event theme is “Lakeside Rhapsody Trilogy.” From January to April, it’s “Heritage ‘Opera’ Club”; from May to September, it’s “Do Art Together for Fun”; and from October to December, it’s “Dance 432, Art Up.” There will be a total of 24 events throughout the year, allowing the public to experience the charm of traditional opera, musical rhapsodies, and dance at the Lakeside Pavilion. The first part of Lakeside Rhapsody, “Heritage ‘Opera’ Club,” will kick off its first event tomorrow (the 12th) from 15:00 to 16:30, featuring the Taichung City performing arts group “Wenshaoxuan Chamber Ensemble.” The Wenshaoxuan Chamber Ensemble is composed of teachers who are passionate about Chinese ethnic music and is dedicated to promoting traditional Chinese music education. In its first year, it won first place in the social group chamber music category at the Taichung City Music Competition. In 1994, it was invited to accompany Wang Leehom at the Golden Horse Awards ceremony. Starting in 1995, it was selected as one of Taichung City’s outstanding performing arts groups for many consecutive years and is often invited to perform abroad, with performances in places such as Lincoln Center in New York, the Flushing Chinese Cultural and Educational Center in New York, and Boston. It is currently one of the most active chamber ensembles in central Taiwan.

From January to April, the first part of Lakeside Rhapsody, “Heritage ‘Opera’ Club,” will feature performances from 15:00 to 16:30 on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. On February 9th, which falls on New Year’s Eve, the event will be postponed to Valentine’s Day, February 14th. At that time, Taichung City performance groups will take turns showcasing traditional Taiwanese music, storytelling, opera, and folk art. The event will also include cultural and creative sales booths and invite popular Taichung street performers to showcase their creativity. There will be fast face painting, balloon art, straw (straw) legends, and quick portrait sketching, with street performers appearing irregularly around the event to interact with the public. Additionally, tea beverages will be available on-site so that the public can enjoy an afternoon tea experience while watching the performances.

This year, there is also a specially planned “Rhapsody Stamp Collection for Gifts” campaign, encouraging the public to come to the Lakeside Pavilion for every show. Collect a stamp for each event attended, and after collecting 6, 16, or 24 stamps, you can exchange them for different seasonal gifts. For detailed event information, visit the website: www.101lakeheartpavilion.glob.tw/index.html.

 

Lakeside Rhapsody Part 1 — January to April “Heritage ‘Opera’ Club” Event Schedule

Month	Date & Time	Performing Group
January	January 12 (Saturday) 15:00	Wenshaoxuan Chamber Ensemble
	January 26 (Saturday) 15:00	Crystal Opera Troupe
February	February 14 (Thursday) 15:00	Tianqiao Storytelling Art Troupe — New Year Greetings & Valentine’s Special
	February 23 (Saturday) 15:00	Yazhu Guzheng Ensemble
March	March 9 (Saturday) 15:00	Dongshi Elementary School Chinese Orchestra
	March 23 (Saturday) 15:00	Datun Hakka Art Troupe
April	April 13 (Saturday) 15:00	Neuxing Elementary School Children’s Taiwanese Opera Troupe
	April 27 (Saturday) 15:00	Taichung Lecheng Temple Nanguan Music Ensemble