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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will hold lantern carnivals at Po Tsui Park, Tseung Kwan O, on February 26, at Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau, on February 27 and at Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre on February 28 to celebrate the Spring Lantern Festival.
Supported by the Office for Cultural Affairs with Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Regions, Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China, the Heilongjiang Province Song and Dance Theatre will perform Chinese ethnic song and dance performances at the three carnivals. Festive lanterns will also be on display at the venues from tomorrow to Sunday (February 26 to 28).
Greeting carnival-goers at the entrance of Po Tsui Park will be nine beautiful peacock lanterns. Together with gold ingots and the gods of fortune, prosperity and longevity, the displays add festive colour to the carnival. Installations at Cheung Chau feature the famous bun festival, floats parade and different kinds of fish. Symbolising life and energy, a seven-metre high lantern decorated with a dragon and a tiger will stand at Ko Shan Road Park surrounded by colourful peonies.
To celebrate Expo 2010 Shanghai China, lanterns featuring the mascot Haibao will also be one of the highlights at the three venues in addition to other festive installations.
Details of the three lantern carnivals are as follows:
1. New Territories East Lunar New Year Lantern
Carnival
Date and time: Tomorrow (February 26),
7.30pm-10.30pm
Venue: Po Tsui Park, Tseung Kwan O
Programmes: Chinese ethnic songs and dances,
Chinese traditional stage arts,
puppetry, golden oldies, choral
performance, fortune-telling, lantern
riddle quiz and roving entertainment
2. New Territories West Lunar New Year Lantern
Carnival
Date and time: Saturday (February 27),
7.30pm-10.30pm
Venue: Pak Tai Temple Playground, Cheung Chau
Programmes: Chinese ethnic songs and dances,
Chinese traditional stage arts, lion
dance, Cantonese operatic songs,
golden oldies, make-a-wish pavilion,
fortune-telling, lantern riddle quiz
and roving entertainment
3. Urban Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival
Date and time: Sunday (February 28),
7.30pm-10.30pm
Venue: Ko Shan Road Park and Ko Shan Theatre
Programmes: Chinese ethnic songs and dances,
Chinese traditional stage arts, golden
oldies, Cantonese opera excerpts,
Chinese instrumental performance,
fortune-telling, lantern riddle quiz
and roving entertainment
A spectacular lantern exhibition "Spring Blessings for a Prosperous Year" is now on show at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza until March 21. Admission is free.
The exhibition displays giant lanterns in the shapes of a dragon, phoenix, qilin (Chinese unicorn) and turtle against a series of colourful lanterns. According to Chinese legend, the dragon, phoenix, qilin and turtle are the "four auspicious creatures" symbolising luck and fortune. During this festive celebration, spring takes over from winter and life surges back. Accompanied by other lantern displays as emblems of blessings and good luck, the four auspicious creatures bring good wishes of prosperity and happiness to each family.
For more information on the above events, please call 2591 1340 or visit the website: www.lcsd.gov.hk/eo.
Ends/Thursday, February 25, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:30
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