Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf Join Hands in Kaohsiung's Grand Balloon Parade, Kicking Off on December 9

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

 

Every December, Christmas and New Year’s events take place one after another across cities and counties, creating an exceptionally lively atmosphere. To welcome 2013, Kaohsiung will also host a series of countdown events. In addition to the New Year’s Eve gala, there will be the only balloon parade in Asia loved by both kids and adults—the Grand Balloon Parade, which will make a colorful debut at 1:30 PM on December 9 on Era Boulevard. The girl group S.H.E will ride in a carriage dressed as princesses, joining over 30 balloon characters including Pleasant Goat, Big Big Wolf, and members of the Open将 family, as well as more than 20 performance groups in the parade.

Cartoon-character balloons have always been a major crowd-puller, attracting large numbers of visitors every year. This year’s event, themed “The World Comes to Kaohsiung,” will feature 30 balloon designs. In addition to the usual cast including the Open将 family, Angry Bird, Hello Kitty, Doraemon, Powerpuff Girls, SpongeBob, Patrick Star, and the Uni-President Lions, it will also debut beloved characters such as Pleasant Goat, Pretty Goat, Big Big Wolf, and Dora, along with classic Disney figures like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Winnie the Pooh.

 

According to Lai Jui-long, Director of the Kaohsiung City Government Information Bureau, aside from the eye-catching floating balloons, the ground performance groups will also be spectacular. This year, the girl group S.H.E, who are reuniting, will make a stunning appearance in beautiful princess costumes, riding in a carriage to meet the public up close. Other highlights include a thrilling opening by heavy-duty motorcycles, adorable appearances by Volkswagen Beetle and Mini Cooper car fleets, static light aircraft displays, as well as over 20 participating groups such as cosplay performers, military band displays, cheerleading squads, indigenous dance troupes, and samba drum teams. The one-kilometer-long carnival parade will offer non-stop excitement for all.

To ensure the smooth running of the Grand Balloon Parade, traffic control will be in place from 7:00 AM on December 6 to midnight on December 9 along Zhongshan Road to Chenggong Road on Era Boulevard. On the day of the event, December 9, the controlled area will be expanded from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM, covering the area east of Chenggong 2nd Road, west of Zhongshan 3rd Road, south of Zhengqin Road, and north of Old Kaihsuan 4th Road.

 

● Related Reading: Count-Down Holiday High-Speed Rail Tickets Go on Pre-sale Starting December 1

http://goo.gl/arx7x