Hong Kong is announced as host for 2007 Chinese New Year Night Parade

Hong Kong has been chosen as this years host for the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade, with the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announcing that they have added even more colourful elements to the Parade. This highlight of the city’s annual Chinese New Year Festival will be held on the first evening of Chinese New Year (the Lunar Year of the Pig), 18 February, in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

This year’s theme is “Celebrate World Party,” and will feature 40 groups, including 13 international and local floats, and 15 overseas and 12 local performing troupes participating in the event. Overseas and local performing groups will cross over this year and will present a series of special programmes and will, for the first time ever, join hands to orchestrate a multi-drum show during the opening.

Troupes from five different continents will be appearing in the parade, with 11 making their first appearance in Hong Kong. These include The Arabians from Spain, which performed at the 5th Anniversary of Disneyland Paris; the Fralinger String Band from the United States, which won the first prize at the Philadelphia Mummers Parade six times in a row; the Empress Stiltdance from New Zealand, an all- female group in bright and colourful costumes and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Band; and La Pena del Sol from Spain, renowned for its dancing skills and elaborate costumes.