Fire dragon dances, carnivals and youth festival among highlights of 20th anniversary celebration (with photos)
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     Two fire dragon dances, a number of mid-autumn festival carnivals and a youth festival will be held in the coming days as part of the celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
 
     Organised by the Tai Hang Residents' Welfare Association, the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of HK's Reunification with the Motherland will be held at Tai Hang from October 3 to 6 (Tuesday to Friday).
 
     The Tai Hang fire dragon dance is an annual ritual in which a 67-metre-long dragon made with burning incense is carried through the streets of Tai Hang. About 300 current or former residents of Tai Hang make up the team that will carry the dragon in the thrilling dance, which has been inscribed onto the national list of intangible cultural heritage.
 
     The consecration ceremony will be held at the Lin Fa Temple at 6.30pm on October 3, after which the fire dragon will arrive to salute the guest of honour. The dance will then proceed along a traditional route that includes Wun Sha Street and King Street before returning to the starting point for replacement of burnt-out incense sticks.
 
     The dance will be held from 8.15pm to 10.30pm on October 3 to 6. On October 4, the performance will also be held at the nearby Victoria Park from 10.45pm to 11.30pm.
 
     For details, please visit www.taihangfiredragon.hk. For enquiries, please call 2577 2649.
 
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     Pok Fu Lam Village is another place that holds a fire dragon dance during the Mid-Autumn Festival. The Mid-Autumn Fire Dragon Event will take place on October 4 (Wednesday) from 6.30pm to 11.45pm. Visitors can also join the lantern carnival inside the village.
 
     A gigantic fire dragon will parade at Pok Fu Lam Village and Waterfall Bay and perform a ritual in front of every shrine to pray for prosperity for the coming year. The parade will end at the seaside to symbolise the return of the dragon to the sea.
 
     For enquiries, please call 6043 0768.
 
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     Two carnivals will be staged in Sha Tin and Mei Foo to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR during the Mid-Autumn Festival.
 
     Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the HKSAR - Sha Tin Mid-Autumn Festival Evening Variety Show 2017, organised by the Working Group on Festive Celebrations under the Culture, Sports and Community Development Committee of the Sha Tin District Council and co-presented by the Sha Tin District Office and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), will be held on October 4 (Wednesday) at Sha Tin Park from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.

     The event will be open to the public for free. Programmes will feature artists' performances, a photo taking zone, Chinese traditional handicraft booths, snack stalls, art showcases and lantern riddle quiz. Spectacular festival lanterns will also be displayed to enhance the festivities.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2158 5381.

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     To share the joy of the anniversary, National Day and the Mid-Autumn Festival, the May Ching United Sport and Recreation Association will stage Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of HKSAR and 68th Anniversary of the Founding of the PRC: Mei Foo Mid-Autumn Variety Show at the amphitheatre and Lingnan Garden of Lai Chi Kok Park on October 3 (Tuesday) from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
 
     Members of the public are welcome to participate with free admission. Highlight activities include an exhibition of Chinese traditional lanterns, booth games, riddles and various performances.
 
     For enquiries, please call 2743 8161.
 
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     The LCSD will hold three festive lantern carnivals from October 4 to 6 (Wednesday to Friday) with a variety of activities. Details are as follows:
 
Event Date, time and location Activities
Urban Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival October 4 (Wednesday), 8pm to 11pm
Victoria Park
Lantern riddle quiz, marching band performance, students' lantern display, wish-making corner and more.
New Territories East Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival October 5 (Thursday), 7.30pm to 10pm
Sha Tin Park
Game booths and traditional snack stalls, magic show and juggling clown performances and more.
New Territories West Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival October 6 (Friday), 7.30pm to 10pm
Tsing Yi Park
Bubble show, lion dance performance, African drum performance and workshop and more.
 
     The LCSD has invited the renowned Jiangsu Arts Troupe to perform "Fantasia for Mid-Autumn Festival", a spectacular performance of Chinese ethnic songs, dance and acrobatics. Guangdong and local masters will demonstrate Chaozhou embroidery, Guangdong inside painting of snuff bottles, birdcage production and Hakka embroidered band knitting craftsmanship in a folk craft session.
 
     In addition, "Youth Night" will be held at the above venues one night after each carnival from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Highlight events will include rope skipping and cheerleading performances and street dance shows, as well as a cappella singing.
 
     Admission is free for the lantern carnivals. For details, please visit the event website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/eo or call 2591 1340.
 
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     The North District Youth Festival, organised by the North District Youth Programme Committee, will be held at Shek Wu Hui Playground in Sheung Shui on October 8 (Sunday) from 1pm to 5pm.
 
     There will be a wide variety of activities, including virtual reality games, a fidget spinner experience and competition, a creative craft workshop, outdoor games and more.
 
     Admission is free and suitable for all ages. For enquiries, please call 2675 1869.
 
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     To share the joy of the 20th anniversary, the HKSAR Government is joining hands with different sectors to organise a wide variety of activities and events under the theme "Together • Progress • Opportunity".

     Altogether, more than 900 events and activities are being staged by the Government and different sectors until the end of 2017.

     For full details and updates on the 20th anniversary celebrations and events, please visit www.hksar20.gov.hk.

Ends/Sunday, October 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:00

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