2017 Macao International Parade Celebrates Handover
Performance groups participating in the annual Parade are becoming more diversified (Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Bureau)
‘The Dinosaurs’ featuring dinosaur-shaped stilts from the Netherlands will participate in the Parade (Photo courtesy of Cultural Affairs Bureau)
Organized by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) of the Macao SAR Government, the 2017 Macao International Parade celebrating the 18th Anniversary of Macao's handover to China takes to the streets on 17th December. This year, the Parade - themed 'Features of local districts and historic monuments' - invites residents and tourists to participate in a feast of 'Peace, Love and Cultural Integration', celebrating the handover together.
New route, new features
This year, Parade through Macau, Latin City has been renamed Macao International Parade in a salute to internationalization, demonstrating the unique charm of Macao. Likewise, this year the Parade will break with the practice of past editions by establishing a new route embracing innovative elements and new perspectives engaging residents and tourists.
On the day of the Parade, a spectacular Opening Ceremony will be held at the Ruins of St. Paul's at 3:00pm, following which local and foreign participating groups will pass through Rua de S. Paulo, Largo de S. Domingos, Senado Square, Travessa do Roquete, Cathedral Square, Avenida da Praia Grande, Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van and Avenida Doutor Stanley Ho, spreading joy throughout the city's busy streets and avenues.
Avenida Panorâmica do Lago Nam Van, the main performance zone of the Parade, will be transformed into a 'vibrant dance floor'. Finally, participating groups will arrive at Sai Van Lake Square at 6:30pm to celebrate the handover in a festive, carnival atmosphere.
Additionally, the Parade will feature a series of activities, including an Arts Promotion Parade Group to be held at the Ruins of St. Paul's and Iao Hon Garden, a performance by Luna Morena Títeres Teatro at Largo do Pagode da Barra, a musical on stilts from Brazil in Iao Hon Garden, and the puppet theatre Find Monsters by the Shenzhen Xiao Douhao Children's Theatre to be held in primary schools in Macao, with performances in various districts.
The Parade also features a series of promotional activities, including a photography competition, games with prizes and other creative activities.
Catalyst for local performance groups
This year's performance group comprises 49 local and 15 foreign groups totalling nearly 1,200 participants. Local groups have actively responded to the call for participation in the Parade - which will feature Cantonese Opera, theatre, music, martial arts, stilts, Oriental and Western modern dance and traditional dance, among others. Local art groups can participate in various categories, including a Themed Parade Group, which allows all groups to compete with other groups and be eligible for awards.
On the day of the Parade, performances will be assessed by a specially designated jury, who will select winners of the Most Outstanding Theme Award, Most Amazing Costume Award, Most Creative Award, Most Energetic Award, Our Parade King Award and Our Parade Queen Award. Participating groups may also choose to participate in the Artistic Parade Group, which invites participants to work on their own artistic characteristics in competition for the awards, showcasing their creativity without limits.
In addition, participating groups may participate in the Art Promotion Parade Group or in the Assigned Art Ambassadors option, in which participating groups will work with schools or community centres to teach how to produce props and plan the Parade. Through these activities, the organizer hopes to encourage the active participation of performing groups and transform the Parade into a platform that enables Macao's art professionals to put their creativity into practice.
Colourful foreign groups
The Parade features a number of outstanding foreign groups from all over the world, including 'Cia de mysterios e Novidades' from Brazil, who present a musical on stilts; Mexican troupe 'Luna Morena Títeres Teatro', who present a puppet show; Australian 'Snuff Puppets - Daniele Poidomani', who will produce giant themed puppets with youths and local students; Yingge Dance – an item of intangible cultural heritage of Chaoshan City of Guangdong Province.
The Parade also features acrobatic troupe 'Enigma' from Cape Verde; the group 'Pauliteiros de Miranda do Douro' from Portugal; performances by the 2017 representative group of Hong Kong's 'La P en V Innovative Dance Platform'; the 'Mirror Walkers' from Austria; the 'Pavullese Dancing Group' from Italy; 'The Dinosaurs' from the Netherlands; the 'Cheerleaders' from Lithuania; the 'PLASTICIENS VOLANTS' and the 'Flower Parade' from France; and the Shenzhen Xiao Douhao Children's Theatre, among others.
Live broadcast on TV, outdoor screens
During the Parade, related crowd control procedures and traffic ban will be enforced, with the public advised to walk or use public transportation to get to Parade venues. TDM - Teledifusão de Macau, S.A. - will broadcast the entire event live, with outdoor screens erected at several locations; namely, Barrier Gate Plaza, Iao Hon Garden, Rotunda Carlos da Maia and Rua de D. Belchior Carneiro.
Popular Hong Kong TVB programme 'Scoop' will feature a foretaste of the event on 15th and 21st December, as well as a Parade Special Programme dedicated to the event's highlights on 23rd December.
For more information about the Parade, please visit www.icm.gov.mo/macaoparade/7/en, or Facebook page: www.facebook.com/macaoparade.