Mid-Autumn carnivals kick off tonight at Tuen Mun Park

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Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), the Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival at Tuen Mun Park tonight (September 10) will kick off a series of Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnivals. Four large-scale lantern carnivals are scheduled from today until September 12 throughout the territory to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Crowds are expected to come to the carnival tonight to enjoy the spectacular lantern display, Chinese stage arts, golden oldies, Cantonese opera, lantern quizzes, fortune-telling stalls and nostalgic games.

Three other lantern carnivals will be held on Thursday (September 11) and Friday (September 12). Admission is free. Details are as follows:

1. Hong Kong Island Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival

September 11 (Thursday)

8pm - 11pm

Victoria Park

2. Kowloon Region Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival

September 12 (Friday)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza

3. New Territories East Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival

September 12 (Friday)

7.30pm - 10.30pm

Tai Po Waterfront Park

The carnival at Victoria Park on September 11 will be alive with excitement. Among the attractions are Chinese ethnic dance, Cantonese opera and operatic songs, a Chinese instrumental concert and Nanyin Singing. Setting the tone are several huge seven-metre-high lanterns surrounding a spectacular dragon.

There will also be activities arranged by the Hong Kong Tourism Board including "Lantern Wonderland", a giant 962-square-metre dome-shaped lantern (until September 16); the Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance and hot-air balloon rides for a breathtaking view of the carnival. The public can also see lanterns that look ahead to the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland, bearing the image of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Apart from the carnivals, a spectacular lantern display will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza. Known collectively as "Fantasy to the Moon", an array of exquisitely designed lanterns and the colossal 10-metre-high "Mid-Autumn Lantern Tower" will be on display until October 19.

From today (September 10) until September 19, more than 650 entries in the 2003 Mid-Autumn Lantern Design Competition including the winning designs will be displayed at the Exhibition Hall, Lower Block, Hong Kong City Hall from 10am to 7pm. Admission is free.

The public is urged to avoid littering and wax-burning while celebrating the festival.

End/Wednesday, September 10, 2003

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