In celebration of traditional festivals and major festive days in the year, nine large-scale carnivals are organised during the Mid-Autumn and Spring Lantern Festivals, around Christmas and on New Year's Eve. In 2004, the New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival held at Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall attracted some 70,000 visitors. The big crowd was kept entertained by a diverse programme featuring Chinese acrobats, excerpts from Broadway musicals, a youth dance programme, percussion music, a family magic theatre, piano and jazz music, and cartoon characters who mingled with the people. The climax came with the Countdown which was followed by a spectacular lighting and pyrotechnic show.

The Mid-Autumn and Spring Lantern Festivals were marked by stunning lantern displays that captivated tourists and local visitors at various locations. The displays at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Kowloon Park, and a related exhibition on the making of Chinese lanterns at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, promoted an appreciation of this traditional Chinese art.

	Chinese lantern exhibition Glowing Legend lights up the Hong Kong Cultural Centre piazza.

To foster community involvement in entertainment programmes, 622 performances were presented to audiences of all ages, usually at weekends and during holidays, throughout Hong Kong. They comprised traditional Chinese performing arts, music, dance and family entertainment. A series of Asian Ethnic Cultural Programmes and a Christmas Capiz Shell Lantern Display was presented in collaboration with Consulate Generals of Thailand, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, these activities enhanced cultural exchanges between the Hong Kong community and the Thai, Sri Lankan and Filipino communities living in Hong Kong.

In 2004, the carnivals, special events and regular free entertainment organised by the department attracted a total attendance of 749,200.