By MOOK Scenic Spots Editorial Team
The 2016 "Guandu Festival," the most popular local event among Taipei residents, kicked off in a festive celebration on Saturday, October 29th. In addition to showcasing local folk art and creativity, this year’s event is on a grand scale, featuring a street parade with 37 performance groups marching through the streets and alleys of Guandu in the afternoon, ready to liven things up in a big way.
Guandu Hiking Trail (Image source / Taipei City Government Tourism and Travel Bureau)
Guandu Nature Park (Image source / Taipei Wild Bird Society Guandu Nature Park)
Costumes prepared by community residents for the parade, after months of planning, will also make their debut. For example, Guandu Elementary School will mobilize 200 adorable and energetic children dressed as migratory birds to take to the streets. Local residents have created life-size “water buffalo” from eco-friendly cardboard boxes, along with a three-meter-tall bear and a full-sized dragon boat that are sure to catch your eye.
Residents dressed up for the parade (Image source / Official website)
The National Taiwan University of Arts, with over 20 years of tradition in traditional performance parades, will not be left out either. On the day, they will dress up and joyfully dance as the characters Joy and Sadness from the animated film “Inside Out.”
Traditional art performances (Image source / Official website)
The following is the schedule of events for the Guandu Festival
|
Event Theme |
Time |
Location |
|
Market |
10:00–18:00 |
Guandu Waterfront Nature Park Plaza |
|
Street Parade |
13:30–14:30 |
Zhixing Road |
|
Grand Performance |
14:30–18:30 |
Guandu Waterfront Nature Park Plaza |
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