The “Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Rabbit” will be held on the 3rd and 7th day of the Lunar New Year, on January 24 and 28 respectively, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement yesterday.
A press conference for the event was held yesterday, the statement noted. MGTO Acting Director Cheng Wai Tong, who was among the attendees, was quoted in the statement as saying that he hopes that the activities will enable members of the public to enjoy Chinese New Year (CNY) in Macau. He added that MGTO will also partner with industry operators to launch a string of special travel offers.
Themed “The Rabbit leaping for the joyful Spring Festival in times of prosperity”, the parade, which will also be broadcast live, will have 18 floats, eight of which are from public entities such as MGTO, Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), and the Sports Bureau (ID).
The statement added that the 10 other floats are from local and mainland enterprises such as Nam Kwong (Group) Company Limited and Macau’s six gaming resort operators.
The parade’s inaugural ceremony, the statement said, will be start at 8 p.m. on January 24, featuring performances from Hong Kong pop band Supper Moment, mainland vocal group AKB48 Team SH, among others.
The statement added that the 18 floats will join over 1,000 mainland, Hong Kong and local performers from Sai Van Lake Square to the Macau Science Centre (MSC).
Spectators can enter designated stands from 5:30 p.m. and must wear a facemask, according to the statement. Warm-up performances will start in Sai Van Lake Square at 5:30 p.m.
The parade slated for January 28 will also start at 8 p.m. at the Northern District.
The routes to be used for the parade will be will be temporarily closed from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m. during both days, while some bus stops will also be suspended, the statement said. Members of the public are urged to pay attention to Transport Bureau’s (DSAT) announcements.
Firework displays and other activities
Meanwhile, a separate MGTO statement yesterday noted that three firework displays will be held above the sea area overlooked by the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre.
Two displays are scheduled at 9:45 p.m. on January 24 and on Renri (“People’s Birthday”) on January 28, while the third show will take place at 9 p.m. on the Lantern Festival on February 5.
The statement added that other activities to be held are the float exhibition from January 25-27 at MSC and January 29 to February 12 Tap Seac and an online prize giving game from January 20 to February 12, a Lunar New Year Market and the launch of the new “Pedestrian Walk through Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro” project.
The avenue, Macau’s main thoroughfare, is known in Cantonese as San Ma Lou (“New Road”).
For the parade routes and event details, visit or follow MGTO weixin on WeChat.
This poster provided by MGTO yesterday promotes the upcoming “Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Rabbit”.
