Carnivals and Entertainment Programmes
The LCSD organised six territory-wide carnivals in celebration of traditional festivals during the year. For the major festive days of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lunar New Year, a series of large-scale lantern carnivals and lantern displays were organised that included performances of ethnic songs and dances by arts troupes from Jiangsu and Xinjiang, sponsored by the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of the Ministry of Culture. The lantern carnivals also featured elements of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), such as a fire dragon dancing parade, traditional handcraft demonstrations by artists from Guangdong, Macao and Hong Kong, and other traditional arts and culture activities. As usual, thematic lantern displays and lantern installations were set up in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza, and a number of Youth Nights were organised during the lantern carnivals that gave young performers a chance to show their talents.
A carnival of Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances to strengthen relationships between local people and Asian ethnic minorities was organised during the year. It was set up in collaboration with the Cultural Affairs Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region and the Consulates-General of Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Nepal, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The LCSD also collaborated with the Consulate-General of the Philippines to organise a Concert in the Park featuring Filipino artists.
Community Thematic Carnivals were held in Central and Western District, Tai Po and North District during the year.
Two popular platforms for talented young musicians and dancers were the Youth Music and Dance Marathon and the Marching Band Parade, in which 41 teams participated this year.The 2018 Lunar New Year Temple Fair was held at the Kowloon Park Piazza and Loggia, with the LCSD sponsoring the venue. It showcased the culture and arts of Henan Province, and was presented by the Hong Kong United Arts Development Centre, the Chinese Culture Friendship Association, the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development, and the Henan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship.
During the year, the LCSD also delivered 611 district free entertainment programmes in all 18 districts of Hong Kong, for audiences of all ages. These were funded by and organised in collaboration with the District Councils. The programmes included both Chinese and Western arts performances, such as traditional Cantonese operas, puppet shows, music, dance, magic shows, and family entertainment.
In total, the LCSD organised 634 carnivals, special events and free entertainment programmes in 2017-18, enjoyed by around 1.02 million people.
