Macau Government Tourist Office (MGTO) is hosting the "Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse", the mega outdoor Chinese New Year festivities on the third and ninth day of Lunar New Year (2 and 8 February) to celebrate the joy of Spring Festival with citizens and visitors. The program includes the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse, a range of performances jointly presented by 1,000 performers, a fireworks show and float displays, etc. This year the Office has also invited various performing groups from Asia and Portugal to join the parade, promising a more diverse and colorful event. MGTO held a press conference today (9 January) unveiling highlights of the event. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Deputy Directors Manuel Pires and Cecilia Tse, Head of Department of Cultural Activities and Recreation of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM), Choi Chi Hong, Head of the Special Projects Division of Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), Boyce Lam Chon Keong, Vice-President of Macau Sport Development Board (MSDB), Pun Weng Kun, and Chairman of the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, Ma Kin Cheong were present along with the representatives of other entities which take part in the float parades. Director Senna Fernandes expressed that the "Joyous Celebration to the Bountiful Year of the Horse" will be more spectacular than last year's corresponding celebration event. This year the event not only features 13 floats in the parades and 23 local groups which will stage artistic performances along the way but also has invited eight performing groups from the Mainland; Hong Kong; Taiwan, China; Malaysia; Japan; Indonesia; Korea and Portugal for a more vibrant and fascinating program. There are 1,038 performers in total. The sponsors of the parade floats include China National Tourism Administration, Exmoo News, Macau Legend Development Ltd., Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, S.A., Galaxy Entertainment Group, Cotai Strip Resorts Macao, Suncity Group, City of Dreams, Wynn Macau and MGM MACAU. On the other hand, TurboJET and Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre are the performance sponsors. The float parade on the third day of Chinese New Year will wend along part of the walking tour route – a Tour of Arts and Culture, starting from Macau Science Center until Sai Van Lake Square. The chosen route is expected to create less traffic congestion on the main roads in the central district but greater convenience for spectators and participants to enjoy the nighttime scenery along the shore and the fireworks show in the evening. MGTO hosts the mega outdoor Chinese New Year celebrations together with IACM, IC and MSDB as co-organizers and The Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District as a supporting entity. The main program is held on the third and ninth night of Lunar New Year, including a launch ceremony, float parades, performances involving 1,000 performers, stage shows, fireworks and float displays. A launch ceremony will be held at the front square of Macau Science Center at 8 p.m. on the third day of Lunar New Year to kick off the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse, which will lead its way through Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and reach its destination at Sai Van Lake Square before Macau Tower. MGTO will set up four points along the parade route for performing teams to stop for performance. The four points are located at the front areas of Macau Science Center, Kun Iam Statue and MGM Macau Hotel as well as Sai Van Lake Square. Stage performances will take place at Sai Van Lake Square at 8:45 p.m. Upon the parade's arrival at Sai Van Lake Square, part of the performing teams will continue their performance on stage. A fireworks show will then dazzle the night sky at 10 p.m. To encourage public involvement, MGTO will co-launch a mobile text message game with Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau S.A.R.L. (CTM), inviting citizens to choose their favorite performance team among the local teams on the third night of Lunar New Year. The most popular team will be invited to join the Popular Street Marching Parades in Lisbon, Portugal. On the third night of Lunar New Year, MGTO will live broadcast the parade through the LED screens at Macau Science Center, Rua de Pedro Nolasco da Silva, Iao Hon Market Garden, Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre as well as Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa so that spectators can enjoy the spectacular show of the whole parade. At the same time, TDM and Macau Cable TV will live broadcast the parade and record the show for subsequent broadcast; the show will also be broadcasted on TVB Jade channel in Hong Kong later. Around 280 staff and 250 volunteers will participate in the event on the third day of Lunar New Year. On the ninth day of Lunar New Year, the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse will again feature 13 floats which will set off from Avenida do Conselheiro Borja and adjourn at Iao Hon Market Garden where stage performances are presented. The 13 floats in the Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Horse will be showcased at Sai Van Lake Square and Tap Seac Square respectively from 3 – 16 February. The illuminations of the floats will be on from 7 – 11 p.m. during the above period. MGTO has started promoting the parade among citizens and visitors through television/radio commercials, internet, printed materials, press, posters, flyers, advertising boards and light boxes, bus and street-lamp post advertising, etc. The Office will also join the Lantern Festival celebrations organized by IACM at Tap Seac Square on the 15th of the first lunar month, including float display and artistic performances.
