Parades celebrate | Year of the Monkey

Extensive outdoor parades for the Chinese New Year (CNY) are being planned for February 10 and 13, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has announced. The festivities will feature a float parade accompanied by over 1,000 performers, splendid fireworks and 3D light effects.
This year’s parade, called “Parade for the Celebration of the Year of the Monkey,” will revolve around the story of the charming Monkey King character from the classic novel entitled “Journey to the West.” The parade aims to tell a fresh, unconventional narrative of the Monkey King choosing to spend a CNY vacation at the Celestial Court in Macau.
The parade will feature four major themes this year: “Fortune Stars to the World”; “Great Treasures on Their Way”; “Rhythm of Lucky Blessings”; and “Prosperity & Success Fills the Year.”
Additionally, the parade is to be accompanied by 14 floats, 28 local groups, as well as nine performance groups from mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Portugal, Spain and the US. A total of 1,338 performers, 475 staff workers and 699 volunteers will come together to support the event.
Following the same route as last year, the first parade will kick off from the Macau Science Center at 7:30 p.m. on February 10. The procession will wind its way through Avenida Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, before finally reaching Sai Van Lake Square in front of the Macau Tower.
MGTO’s director, Helena de Senna Fernandes, remarked at a press conference that the CNY parades in Macau have developed into one of the MSAR’s signature festive events.
To enable residents to easily access the planned path of the parades, MGTO will operate free shuttle bus services around seven routes in Macau, Taipa and Coloane.
The parades will be shown live on TDM and Macau Cable TV. They will also be live broadcast on a large screen in Sai Van Lake Square, followed by a fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. Staff reporter