The “Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Snake”, organised by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO), set off from Sai Van Lake Square on Friday night, the third day of the Chinese New Year (CNY), followed by the first Chinese New Year Fireworks Displays.
Central People’s Government and Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) officials, including Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the MSAR Huang Liuquan and Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the MSAR Liu Xianfa officiated at the opening ceremony.
Secretary for Economy and Finance, Anton Tai Kin Ip, delivered a Chinese New Year Message for the Year of the Snake during the opening ceremony.
Performance teams from the Culture Cities of East Asia 2025 were featured in the parade, comprising representatives from Macau, Huzhou in Zhejiang Province, Japan’s Kamakura city, and South Korea’s Anseong city.
The Huzhou, Kamakura, and Anseong performance teams showcased their traditional clothing, music, and cultural themes as part of the parade, highlighting the diverse cultural heritage of the East Asian region.
There was a total of 17 floats in the parade. Eight of the floats were designed by local government entities, while the remaining floats were provided by Hengqin and local enterprises.
The floats set off from Sai Van Lake Square, passed by Kun Iam Ecumenical Centre and Macau Science Centre in Nape, before reaching Macau Fisherman’s Wharf, where they are on display until Friday. The floats will also be exhibited in Tap Seac Square from February 9 to 16, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The second float performance is scheduled for this Saturday night, with the floats to set off from Estrada Marginal da Ilha Verde (青洲河邊馬路) en route to Iao Hon Market Garden.
Following Friday’s parade, a firework display lit up the sky for 15 minutes in Sai Van.
Over 1,000 performers and 17 colourful floats are featured in the “Parade for Celebration of the Year of the Snake” on Friday night at Sai Van. – Photos: William Chan
