Seven large carnivals were organised during the year to celebrate traditional festivals and major festive days. The New Year’s Eve Countdown Carnival 2011, in Sha Tin Park and at the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza cum City Art Square, attracted 80 000 visitors.
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The four-metre-high illuminated giant elves, presented by French arts group Cie des Quidams, celebrate with the crowd at the New Year’s Eve Countdown Carnival 2011 in Sha Tin Park and Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza cum City Art Square. |
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Dances, magic, music shows by local arts groups and talented young artists entertained the large crowd. A visiting French group gave fun-filled street theatre performances with giant luminous characters lighting up City Art Square. The climax of the evening was the New Year countdown, followed by a spectacular fireworks display over Sha Tin Town Hall complex.
To celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lunar New Year, the department organised large-scale lantern carnivals. The highlights involved spectacular ethnic dances, martial arts and acrobatics by groups from Henan and Inner-Mongolia. They were sponsored by the Office for Cultural Affairs of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Regions of the Mainland Ministry of Culture.
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The 2011 Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival at Victoria Park featured spectacular lantern installations, including traditional hand-made revolving ‘zoumadeng’ lanterns. |
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Intangible cultural heritage elements such as the fire dragon dancing parade and traditional lantern-making craftsmanship by local masters were also featured. During both festivals, thematic lantern exhibitions were staged at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza and, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade, captivating scores of locals and tourists.
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Colourful lanterns light up the promenade along the harbour in celebration of the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. |
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To foster amity between locals and other ethnic Asians, the department, in co-operation with the Consulate-General of the Philippines, organised the Concert in the Park featuring Filipino artists. Another event, themed Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances, was organised in co-operation with the Consulates-General of Bangladesh, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Nepal, the Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Following their successful launch in 2009-10, three Community Thematic Carnivals were held this year in Kowloon City, Tai Po and North District, with performances and community participation activities.
The Youth Band Marathon and Marching Band Parade continued to provide platforms for talented youth.
Funded by and in co-operation with the District Councils, 638 regular free entertainment performances were offered throughout Hong Kong for audiences of all ages. Usually held on weekends and public holidays, these free programmes included traditional Chinese performing arts, music, dance and family entertainment.
In 2011-12, the department organised a total of 665 carnivals, special events and free entertainment programmes, attracting about 1 165 000 people.
