By MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Life Network, reported and compiled by Chen Guanxin
The Keelung Ghost Festival, which has a history of over 150 years, will officially kick off after the opening ceremony of the ancestral shrine at Laodaogong Temple on August 17. This year, continuing the tradition, a variety of performances and ancestral worship activities have been planned, and for the first time a “Ghostly Travel Group” is being launched. The public is invited to dress up as ghosts and monsters according to the theme on August 30, the day of the Water Lantern Parade, and participate in the clan competitions, as well as the elaborate lantern floats, flower floats, and parade troupes showcasing religious art. Free round-trip transportation from Taipei to Keelung and a NT$200 food allowance for temple street snacks will be provided. The Ghostly Travel Group plans to recruit 40 members, and free registration is open from now until August 23.
Every year, the lighting ceremony at the main worship altar of the Keelung Ghost Festival attracts large crowds. (Photo provided by Keelung City Government)
The Keelung Ghost Festival began in the fifth year of the Xianfeng era (1855) and is now designated as the No. 1 National Important Folk Cultural Asset by the Executive Yuan’s Council for Cultural Affairs. The nearly month-long series of events is an annual highlight in Keelung and is often referred to as Taiwan’s Halloween. This year marks the fifth edition of the creative “KUSO Ghost Face Contest,” with registration open from now until August 30. In addition to uploading photos directly via computer to the official website, an app for the Keelung Ghost Festival with a built-in ghost face photo function will also be available for download on August 15. As long as you have a smartphone, you can upload your entries directly to the website to join the contest. Awards will include the Most Popular Award, the Most Creative Award, and the Lucky Blessing Award, with winners receiving prizes such as digital cameras or tablets.
Additionally, the Keelung Ghost Festival is also searching for temple street snack masters and hosting the “Top 10 Budget Snack PK.” Participants are invited to plan a Keelung snack itinerary for one person within a NT$99 budget, and share how they would use that amount by uploading it to the event section of the official website. The highest-rated entry by online voters will win a NT$50 bonus for budget snacks, and 20 additional participants who vote will receive event souvenirs. Event website: www.rs-event.com.tw/2012kmsgf.
The lively parade brings the Keelung Ghost Festival to its most exciting climax. (Photo provided by Keelung City Government)
● Read more: Taiwan Tourist Shuttle “Monster Bus” sets off with a scare on August 17 in Xitou
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