Macau has, to say the least, been busy with events from the recently concluded 15th National Games and the 72nd Macau Grand Prix (MGP) to the ongoing and ever-packed 25th Macau Food Festival. And now, with the onset of cooler weather, has come another event to draw Macau’s crowds: the annual Tap Siac Craft Market in Autumn, which opened on Thursday.
Running for a total of eight days broken up into two consecutive weeks, the craft market, which has been annually held in the spring and the autumn since 2008, features a variety of items for fairgoers in Praça do Tap Siac. And by 4:30 p.m. yesterday, it had drawn a sizable crowd. From young children to seniors to families and people visiting the market with their beloved pets, the fairgoers were made up of different age groups and backgrounds that came together to explore the market, at times shoulder to shoulder.
Booth operators from Macau and elsewhere were absorbed in their work as they sold or introduced products to passers-by, with everything from a variety of artworks and clothing to daily items and jewellery for sale. Outside of the busy booths were those steadily engaged in handicraft workshops at a designated area, gathering a raft of participants including parents and their children.
Just opposite the workshops were queues made up of the young and the young at heart as they eagerly anticipated their turn at a table tennis-themed game area, which had the lively sounds of laughter from children and even parents as they went about playing. Those who wanted to slow down also had the choice of watching performances at the designated area by the steps of the Glass House overlooking the square, where sessions among the 47 music performances by acts from Macau, the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong are being held during the two-week event.
And to add to the shopping, workshops and music, several stalls are offering snacks featuring local staples and other fare, along with beverages, all serving as energy boosters to explore the market further.
With all the activities going on in the square, the event is another place to be in the continuously busy and ever lively Macau.
The craft market will be returning for its second week from November 27 through 30, being open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday during the period. One can find more information on the workshops and musical performances by visiting www.craftmarket.gov.mo, the “Macao Craft Market” Facebook page and the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) website on
Photos taken yesterday by Rui Pastorin
