How do you pronounce “Law Lay Gan Do J”? The lively Guandu Festival on the 29th draws thousands to join the street parade

▲ Students from the Department of Communication Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts performed a deity parade at the press conference on the 24th. (Photo / fromGuandu Festivalofficial Facebook page)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The “2016 Guandu Festival” will kick off on the 29th at the Guandu Natural Waterfront Park Plaza. This year, a total of 38 groups will showcase their creativity with self-made props during the “street parade,” and with the participating crowds, it’s expected that tens of thousands will join in the fun. In addition, 52 local businesses have been invited to take part in the event, offering discounts for at least one month starting from the day of the festival, giving the public a chance to shop happily.

Last year’s Guandu Festival was hailed by Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je as a “model of community building,” attracting thousands to join in the fun. This year’s Guandu Festival takes “Cultural Guandu, Fun Arts” as its theme. In addition to an increased number of creative parade teams, local businesses have also been invited to join the celebration. Organizers estimate that tens of thousands will come together to take part in the street parade, creating a bustling scene.

Organizers said that the Guandu Festival will begin setting up a creative market at 10 a.m., and starting at 1:30 p.m., the parade groups will set off from various neighborhood lanes and perform spontaneously along the way before gathering at the Waterfront Park Plaza for a joint performance.Due to the large scale of the parade, traffic control will be implemented on Zhixing Road in Beitou from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. that day, and buses will also adjust their routes, skipping stops on Zhixing Road and Guandu Road. The public is advised to pay attention to traffic updates and plan alternative routes.

2016 Guandu Festival
Time: November 29, 2016
Venue: Lide Road, Ziqiang Road, Zili Road, Zhixing Road, Guandu Temple, and Guandu Natural Waterfront Park Plaza
Event Schedule:
1. Guandu Market: 10:00–18:00
2. Guandu Street Parade: 13:30–14:30
3. Guandu Performance Show: 14:30–18:30
4. Street Parade Creative Workshops: July–October 2016