The ongoing Tam Kung Festival (May 9-17) celebrations will include a luminous night dragon for the very first time. The 300-metre-long dragon will be the focal point of the Night Dragon Parade @ Eastern District event in Shau Kai Wan, which will take place from 3pm-8pm on May 11.
The dragon will consist of 10 sections with a 900-metre-long string of LED lights, and will require 200 people to participate in the event. The parade will begin at the Eastern District Cultural Square and head towards the Shau Kei Wan Main Street East, before finishing at the Factory Street Playground. Spectators can also see 250 inflatable dragons during the parade, along with lion dance performances.
The festival, which takes place on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, pays homage to Tam Kung, who is revered among fishermen and coastal communities. The celebrations will also feature an International Lion Dance Competition on May 12, which will have eight participating teams. Visitors to Shau Kei Wan from May 13-15 can also watch Cantonese Opera performances, and the traditional Tam Kung Festival Parade on May 15.
The Night Dragon Parade and the Tam Kung Festival Parade are non-ticketed events. However, those who wish to watch the variety show, International Lion Dance Competition, and Cantonese Opera performances need free admission tickets, which they can collect from outside the Shau Kei Wan Market Building at 153 Shau Kei Wan Main Street East. Tickets are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information about the Tam Kung Festival, visit the Hong Kong Tourism Board website.
Header image credits: Hong Kong Tourism Board & Ray ‘Wolverine’ Li via Flickr
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