“MACAO LIGHT FESTIVAL 2020 – LIGHT CARNIVAL” DAZZLES THE MACAO CITYSCAPE

Colorful illuminations create a sparkling Lights Carnival

by Suman Gupta

Mumbai, 2020: Curtains to the splendid “Macao Light Festival 2020 – Light Carnival” that took place from 26^th September 2020, which dazzled the cityscape until 31 October 2020. Staging the sixth edition of the Festival, this was the first time that Tap Seac Square was illuminated along with a spectacular mapping show projected upon four historic façades. The four routes were mapped out across 12 locations in town to create a sparkling carnival. The event was organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and co-organized by 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, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao.

The 6th Macao Light Festival was staged from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. from 26 September to 31 October. Themed as “Light Carnival”, the Festival presented light installations and interactive games at 12 locations along four designated routes themed as “Circus”, “Time Tunnel”, “Candy Kingdom” and “Music Box of Lights” in different parishes. The Festival offered numerous hotspots for selfies and check-ins on social media. Macao Tourism Mascot MAK MAK appeared in lovely costumes across the routes, accompanying residents and visitors on the fun “Light Carnival” journey.

Mapping shows told enchanting stories at five locations-

The Macao Light Festival staged different mapping shows at five iconic attractions including Tap Seac Square, China Products Company at Largo do Pagode do Bazar and Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park as new venues, as well as Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome and the restaurant Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa at Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village as last year. At Tap Seac Square, the mega mapping show projected upon the facades of four historic architectures including the buildings of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Tap Seac Health Centre, Macao Central Library and the Archives of Macao. Painting strokes of light upon the magnificent canvas, the show conveyed various expressions of color in different styles of artworks.

Themed as “Inheritance”, the mapping show at China Products Company portrayed Macao’s local culture in the old times with a vivid picture of the city’s long history and age-old values passed on from generation to generation. Themed as “Circus Show”, the mapping show at Wong Ieng Kuan Children’s Library in Areia Preta Urban Park was a virtual confluence of acrobatics, magic and stunt performance, immersing audiences in a dreamlike carnival of vitality and joy. Themed as “Touring North District”, the mapping show at Macau (Yat Yuen) Canidrome led audiences to visit hidden gems in the Northern District, unveiling enchanting stories and social landscape of the community. Staged at Largo dos Bombeiros in Taipa Village, the mapping show transformed the building of Cozinha Pinocchio Taipa into a “Musical Piano”. Several famous pieces of classical music were represented in visual forms, offering spectators a fresh experience of classical music and the possibilities beyond.

Light events in communities

An array of light events were held in local communities in tandem with the Macao Light Festival this year. The Industry and Commerce Federation of Macau Central and Southern District, the Industry and Commerce Association of Macau Northern District, as well as the Industry and Commerce Federation of Islands of Macao concurrently staged “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Light and Color at Cathedral Parish”, “Macao Light Festival 2020 — Fun Journey of Light at Our Lady of Fatima Parish” and “Macao Light Festival 2020 — ‘Light extravaganza on Coloane’ at Parish of St. Francis Xavier” respectively. The events encompassed light installations, workshops, interactive games, and performances, along with time-limited offers and giveaways from the Festival.

MGTO paid close attention to the current situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, and made timely and proper arrangements for all the shows and activities in accord with the guidelines issued by Health Bureau.