Macau’s Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) will co-host an event dubbed “Infinite Love Marathon Concerts” between this Saturday and February 20.
The Cultural Affairs Bureau held a press conference at the Macau Cultural Centre VIP Room yesterday afternoon to announce details of the 9-day event.
The event aims to promote family relationships, friendship and love, on the occasion of the Western Valentine’s Day (next Monday) and the Chinese Lantern Festival (next Tuesday), according to an IC statement released during the press conference.
The Lantern Festival (元宵節) traditionally takes place on the 15th day of the 1st month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The festival coincides with the last day of the Chinese New Year.
There is also a Chinese Valentine’s Day (七夕) which this year takes place on August 4, on the 7th day of the 7th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar.
The double-festival event will take place at Sai Van Lake Square.The opening ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The event will be held between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on February 12-13 (this Saturday and Sunday) and on the weekend of February 19-20. It will be held between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the weekdays between February 14 and 18. Admission is free and no tickets are required.
About 300 local performers and several Hong Kong and mainland performers will present a total of 44 hours of music performances throughout the event, according to the statement.
IC President Leong Wai Man, United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau (UAFBMM) President Andrew Chan Chak Mou, Chessman Entertainment & Production Co. Ltd. President Che Fok Sang and local Singers Rico Long and Kane Ao Ieong, as well as two other IC officials co-hosted the press conference.
When asked by reporters after the press conference about COVID-19’s impact on the performance industry, Rico Long (龍世傑) said that cancelled and restricted events led to an outflow of artistes.
Asked by the media about the event’s budget and expected number of visitors, Leong noted that the budget, covering all the performances and the installation of food and game booths is about 6 million patacas, adding that the venue was expected to attract 1,500 people per day.
‘Theme of love’ food, light installations & game booths
The IC statement underlined that the concerts are themed love and the venue will be decorated with light installations featuring family, friendship and romantic elements to spread love and harmony in the community.
The statement pointed out that there will be about 20 food stands, game booths and workshops including activities such as a free tarot reading experience, curling in response to local people’s enthusiasm about the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, and lantern riddles.
Lantern riddles are puzzles written on lanterns displayed during traditional Chinese festivals such as the Chinese Lantern Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival.
The statement noted that visitors can only eat and drink in the venue’s designated area.
The statement reminded the public that all participants must wear facemasks, undergo temperature checks, scan the venue QR code to record their visits, present a valid Macau Health Code, maintain social distance, and heed anti-epidemic and crowd control measures.
The event’s details can be found on www.icm.gov.mo/marathon.
Macau Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) President Leong Wai Man (centre), United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau President Andrew Chan Chak Mou (third from right) local singers Kane Ao Ieong (left) and Rico Long (second from right) and others pose before yesterday’s press conference at the VIP Room of the Macau Cultural Centre (CCM) in Nape. Photo: Ula Cheang
