The Government Information Office (GIO) announced yesterday a series of concerts and festivities that would be held around the country to mark the 97th national day of the Republic of China next Friday.
The festivities will include a parade and a fireworks show.
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) will preside for the first time over the national day ceremony after taking office on May 20 this year.
Festivities will begin at 9:30am in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei, the GIO said.
At the end of the ceremony, there will be a street parade consisting of 17 festooned vehicles representing different governmental agencies and local authorities.
They will promote the government’s policies and the characteristics of the different regions of Taiwan, the GIO said.
In addition, the Presidential Office will be open to visitors from noon to 4pm that day.
Later in the day, Chiayi County will host a 50-minute fireworks display, during which 7,813 fireworks will be set off. The show is scheduled to begin at 7pm.
At the same time, a pop concert expected to attract around 20,000 to 30,000 people will be held in Hualien County.
In Taichung, the Council for Cultural Affairs plans to entertain central Taiwan residents with music from the internationally renowned violinist Lin Cho-liang (林昭亮) and the Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.
Kaohsiung City will be organizing a bicycle-riding carnival circumnavigating the city’s bike paths in the afternoon on the same day.
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