ZAPE vegetarian food festival opens for holiday

Two community tourism events backed by the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) will run during the five-day Labor Day holiday. Organizers said the Food Culture Festival, held in the pedestrian area at Rua de Cantão and Rua de Xangai, aims to attract more visitors and support the local economy through food and cultural activities.

The Green Rhythms & Vegetarian Notes Savoring Macao Food Culture Festival opened Thursday in the ZAPE district on the Macau Peninsula.

Organized by the Macau Catering Industry Association, the festival runs daily from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. through May 7. The event features approximately 20 booths, along with nightly performances.

Booths are divided into vegetarian cuisine, green food, and cultural, creative, and environmental protection zones. Offerings include Taiwanese, Malaysian, Indonesian, and Western-influenced Chinese dishes, along with traditional vegetarian fare.

The festival also features interactive games and DIY workshops on vegetarian desserts, kimchi, kombucha pairings, green health jelly, and milk tea. Evening performances will include children’s Latin dance and singing.

Organizers said the event is intended to highlight Macau’s growing green industry chain and attract foot traffic to the district. They also said the festival is expected to benefit from the introduction of the leisure tour bus service in the area.

Lei Iam Leong, president of the association, said the event supports the government’s tourism-plus-food strategy and its “1+4” economic diversification plan. He added that it reflects growing global interest in health and sustainability, while showcasing Macau’s blend of Chinese and Western culinary traditions.