The “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” is dazzling the city every night until 31 October. For the first time, the festival is lighting up Tap Seac Square with a mapping show projected onto four historic façades in the square.
For the annual festival, now in its sixth year, spectators can follow four routes through the city to view 12 locations lit up to create a sparkling festival.
A ceremony in Tap Seac Square on 26 September opened the carnival. “Despite the challenges faced by the tourism industry this year, Macao’s tourism sector is setting off anew again under close collaboration between the public and private sectors while movement across border is gradually resumed between the Mainland and Macao,” said MGTO Acting Director Ricky Hoi in his speech, adding that the carnival was the first spectacular of more events that would soon ensue. “We are ready to welcome visitors to Macao once again,” Hoi remarked.
The “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” is organised by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and co-organised by the Macao SAR Government Municipal Affairs Bureau, Cultural Affairs Bureau, Sports Bureau and Economic Bureau, with the support of the Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, and the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao.
Four routes across Macao Peninsula and Taipa
The “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” is staged each night from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with the last mapping show beginning at 9:50 p.m. The spectacles along each of the four routes follow the themes “Circus”, “Time Tunnel”, “Candy Kingdom” and “Music Box of Lights”, respectively. Along the way are spots for talking selfies and for social media check-ins. Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK, clad in various costumes, pops up to accompany locals and visitors to the city as they follow the routes.
Routes:
- “Circus” at Our Lady of Fatima Parish: the route connects the Leisure Area in Rua do General Ivens Ferraz, the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome and Areia Preta Urban Park. A huge, 27-metre-long, canopy has been raised at the Leisure Area in Rua do General Ivens Ferraz, where augmented-reality interactive games and illuminations in animal patterns recreate a circus-like experience for audiences. Festivalgoers can also check in at the “Pirate Ship” lighting installation or enjoy the “Circus Show” mapping show in Areia Preta Urban Park;
- “Time Tunnel” at St. Lazarus Parish and St. Anthony Parish: the route weaves together Tap Seac Square, Calçada do Amparo, Pátio de Chôn Sau, Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo, Rua dos Ervanários and Largo do Pagode do Bazar as a magical corridor for time travel;
- “Candy Kingdom” in Nam Van and Sai Van Districts: colourful illuminations resembling sweet delights such as “Rainbow Rings” and “Refreshing Iced Drinks” have been deployed at Nam Van Lake Nautical Centre and Anim’Arte Nam Van to dazzle festivalgoers and fill the districts with a sense of sweetness;
- “Music Box of Lights” at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish: “Amazing Escada do Coxo”, “Musical Stairs” and other light installations, along with mapping show “Musical Piano” at restaurant Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa at Taipa Village, give audiences an unparalleled visual feast.
Mapping shows tell enchanting stories
Among the main features of the “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” are the mapping shows at five of Macao’s most celebrated attractions: Tap Seac Square, the China Products Company building in Largo do Pagode do Bazar, Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park, the Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome and the building housing the Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa, a restaurant in Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village.
In Tap Seac Square, the mapping mega-show is projected onto the facades of four historic structures: the Cultural Affairs Bureau building, the Tap Seac Health Centre, the Macao Central Library and the Archives of Macao building. The show paints strokes of light on a magnificent canvas, expressing colours in various shades in various styles of art.
“Inheritance” is the theme of the mapping show at the China Products Company building. It portrays the culture of Macao in days past, giving a vivid picture of the long history of the city and age-old values passed down from generation to generation.
The mapping show at the Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library has a theme entitled “Circus Show”. It combines virtual acrobatics, magic and stunts to immerse audiences in a dreamlike state of vitality and joy.
Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome hosts the “Touring North District” mapping show. Here, spectators are directed to hidden gems, revealing enchanting stories and charting the social landscape of the community.
“Musical Piano” is the name of the theme of the mapping show at the Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa building. The mapping sees several famous pieces of classical music represented in visual form, giving spectators a fresh way to appreciate the classics.
Lighting up the community
An array of light events is being held in tandem with the “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival”. The community events comprise light installations, workshops, interactive games, performances, festival giveaways and limited offers.
The Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District is putting on the “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light and Colour at Cathedral Parish”. The “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Fun Journey of Light at Our Lady of Fatima Parish” has been arranged by the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District. Finally, the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao is staging “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Extravaganza on Coloane at Parish of St. Francis Xavier”.
Full details for “MGTO Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” are at mlf.macaotourism.gov.mo and at WeChat ID “mgtoweixin”.
MGTO is following the guidelines to control the COVID-19 pandemic set out by the Macao SAR Government Health Bureau for the “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival”. If inclement weather disrupts the festival, suitable changes will be made to the programme.
Opening ceremony of the “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” 
MGTO Acting Director Ricky Hoi speaks at the opening ceremony 
Mapping mega-show illuminates Tap Seac Square 
Children enjoy playing chess with Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK