Groups and individuals dubbed the “Glories of Taiwan” will join floats from around the nation this Sunday at the National Day parade, the Council for Cultural Affairs said yesterday.
“The parade will be the most creative National Day float parade in the nation’s history,” said Council for Cultural Affairs Minister Emile Sheng (盛治仁), who doubles as chief executive of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Centenary Foundation.
Sheng said participants would include vegetable-selling philanthropist Chen Shu-chu (陳樹菊), who was listed as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential individual list earlier this year, Olympic taekwondo medalist Chu Mu-yen (朱木炎) and Taipei Jingmei Girls High School’s tug-of-war team, which won this year’s World Indoor Championships.
PHOTO: CNA
The parade will also feature floats designed by a number of government agencies, 10 local governments and several enterprises.
EIGHT GENERALS
The Jyou-Tian Folk Drum and Arts Group, dressed in the costumes of the Eight Generals (八家將), will join the parade, accompanied by 200 heavy-duty motorcycles, Sheng said.
Sheng added that the group planned to spend two months next year crossing the Sahara Desert in the Eight Generals costumes to mark the Republic of China’s centennial anniversary.
Other participants will include top model Patina Lin (林嘉綺), who will lead 101 models in the parade.
The parade will begin at 2pm on Sunday from the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall’s Liberty Square and head toward Sun Yat-sen Memorial on Renai Road.
Celebrations are expected to conclude at 6pm, the council said.
FLIGHT DISRUPTION
In related news, the Civil Aeronautics Administration said yesterday that part of the air space for civil aviation flights would be closed this Sunday to make way for the fireworks display on the Double Ten Day.
The aviation authority estimated that 10 flights departing from or landing at Taipei Songshan Airport between 7pm and 8pm on Sunday would be affected by the measure.
Additional reporting by Shelley Shan
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