Indigenous cuisine, music, and craft feast to kick off in Taitung this weekend

By Li Xinyi, compiled and reported

 

The "Kaluluan Handicraft Market" event will be held every Saturday and Sunday for four consecutive weeks starting July 23, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Kaluluan Recreation Area in Taitung County (located at the 156 km mark of Provincial Highway 11). The event includes inviting over 20 local Taitung artisans to share their handmade creations on the grass; the “Sea Breeze Concert,” featuring performances by well-known bands each week; “Handicraft DIY,” where visitors can experience various hands-on crafting activities; the “Starry Sky Cinema,” which will screen both domestic and international films, offering the unique experience of watching outdoor movies under the stars; and the “Food Carnival,” where visitors can sample indigenous-style dishes.

The theme of the first week is “Indigenous Fashion,” where the handicraft market will feature creators presenting their vision of their homeland through their own unique fashion styles. The Sea Breeze Music Festival will kick off with a performance by the ka-silaw band, a new generation of Amis indigenous musicians who compose contemporary indigenous songs, showcasing the youth and vitality of the new wave of indigenous talent. The theme for the second week is “Green Awareness,” with the handicraft market featuring natural plant-dyed crafts and upcycled driftwood creations. The Sea Breeze Music Festival will feature a trio of rural armed youths who speak up for Taiwan’s agriculture and socially disadvantaged groups, carrying on the street protest spirit of the pioneering band Hei Shou Na Ka Xi, while infusing it with the passion and perspectives of the new generation.

The third week’s theme, “Playful Childhood,” begins on August 6. Do you remember what you used to play with as a child? Homemade bamboo helicopters, bamboo guns, or the spinning tops and kites given by your elders—small things that brought endless joy and were played with over and over again. These cherished memories will be rediscovered at the handicraft market. The fourth week’s theme is “Slow Living, Happy Living,” with traditional dishes like abai taking center stage at the food tasting. The Sea Breeze Music Festival on August 13 will feature the “Shepherds” band, composed of indigenous musicians from Mudan Township who are self-taught yet highly musically gifted. The band is named after the shepherd profession of their leader, Hua Hengxiong. For more details on the events, please check online.