In celebration of traditional festivals and major festive days in the year, nine large-scale carnivals were organised during the Mid-Autumn and Spring Lantern Festivals, around Christmas and on New Year's Eve. The New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival held at Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall attracted some 90,000 visitors who enjoyed a pyrotechnic display after a series of dance and musical performances of various styles. Visiting Australian group Batacuda captivated the audience with a blend of strong percussion music, dance and circus tricks.

Spectacular lantern displays for the Mid-Autumn and Spring Lantern Festivals, were admired by tourists and local visitors at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The related exhibition on the making of Chinese lanterns promoted an appreciation of this traditional Chinese art. In support of the 'Relaunch Hong Kong Campaign', the LCSD joined hands with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to arrange a spectacular lantern display and carnival at Victoria Park, which attracted a record crowd of 376,000.

Visitors attracted to the spectacular lantern displays at the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival in Victoria Park.

Community involvement carries the same importance as community enjoyment in the LCSD's provision of entertainment programmes. The series of Asian Ethnic Cultural Programmes and the Concert in the Park enhanced cultural exchange between the Hong Kong community and Japanese, Korean and Filipino nationals residing in Hong Kong. In all, 616 performances, comprising a variety of traditional Chinese performing arts, music, dance and family entertainment programmes, were presented at district level to audiences of all ages, usually at weekends and on holidays, throughout Hong Kong.

Territory-wide carnivals, special events and regular free entertainment programmes organised by the department in 2003 attracted a total attendance of 797,311.