Celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival with a lineup of arts and cultural events in Taichung City starting this weekend! Beginning Saturday, May 24, the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau will present a series of exciting events at Taichung’s cultural centers and libraries. Highlights include large-scale magic shows, circus performances, land-based dragon boat races, festive markets, hands-on craft workshops, and interactive games with prizes. With food, fun, and gifts all in one place, the public is warmly invited to join in the festivities and enjoy an early celebration of the Dragon Boat Festival.
According to the Cultural Affairs Bureau, the Tun District Art Center will host the “Tun District Rice Dumpling Summer Carnival” on May 24, beginning at 3 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater. The event will feature performances by the Dream Come True Magic Troupe and the On.P.Young circus, showcasing eye-catching magic and large-scale circus acts. Additional highlights include a “Dragon Boat Festival Customs Story Exhibition” and the interactive game “Catch the Dumpling,” where participants who complete the challenge will receive a limited-edition DIY paper-folding rice dumpling. Attendees who complete a post-event survey will also receive a practical, limited-edition rice-dumpling-leaf-shaped storage pouch. Don’t miss out on these exciting offerings!
On May 24, the Huludun Cultural Center will present three captivating street performances. These acts will combine pop-up book elements with steel stunts, crystal balls and tri-glide rings, and cube-based items to showcase the enchanting artistry of martial illusions. The show will also include interactive magic featuring fruits and white doves, along with a six-ring juggling act sure to amaze audiences with its visual spectacle. On Sunday, May 25, the center will host the “Fun-Filled Summer with Dumplings: A Children’s Dragon Boat Festival Celebration,” featuring the ever-popular Twisting Dragon Boat Race for families and a series of themed challenge games inspired by the traditions and stories of the Dragon Boat Festival. Visitors who check in at the event can receive commemorative gifts, including scented rice dumpling sachets and twisting balloons. With an exciting program in store, families are warmly encouraged to join in the festivities and take on the challenges together.
In addition, the Seaport Art Center, in collaboration with the Qingshui Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Park, will present the “Slow Living in Summer: A Sanctuary for the Soul” series of events. On May 25, the Seaport Art Center will offer a hands-on workshop titled “Colorful Cord Weaving – Necklace with Chinese Soap Berries,” along with craft workshops and storytelling sessions, providing a delightful opportunity for parents and children to enjoy some time together. On Friday, May 30, the first day of the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, the center will feature an engaging interactive juggling performance. The festivities will continue on Sunday, June 1, with a soothing saxophone concert by the Nature Saxophone Ensemble, inviting the public to relax and embrace the joyful holiday spirit.
During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday on May 30 and June 1, the Qingshui Military Dependents’ Village Cultural Park will present the “Singing Bowl Sound Therapy Experience,” “Scented Sachet Workshop,” and “Pilates Experience”—perfect for relieving stress and refreshing the body and mind in the early summer heat. Additional highlights include “A Feast for the Soul: Guitar Performance,” along with a summer market featuring handmade crafts, local delicacies, and specialty goods, as well as a special talk, “Emerge Fest x Qingshui Military Dependents’ Village Special Exhibition Lecture,” with renowned musician Nuno Chen sharing behind-the-scenes stories of the celebrated music festival. A visit to Qingshui during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday promises to be the perfect way to cool down and unwind this summer.
Furthermore, the Taichung Public Library is launching the “Aromatic Summer Reads: Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival Through Reading” series, with various branch libraries—including North District, Qingshui, and Taiping—offering events such as scented sachet DIY workshops, book borrowing in exchange for painted dragon boat craft kits, and parent-child shimenawa (enclosing rope) crafting sessions. These events invite the public to explore the festive traditions and the joy of reading within the library setting. Participation requires registration with reading points or book borrowing credits. For details, please visit the event webpage (https://gov.tw/n9i).
The Cultural Affairs Bureau added that from May 30 to June 1, during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, adjusted opening hours and complete activity information for all arts and cultural venues can be found on the official website of the Taichung City Government’s Cultural Affairs Bureau (https://www.culture.taichung.gov.tw/, as well as on the websites of individual venues).