THIS LUNAR New Year's line-up promises all the usual festivities as well as a few unseasonal treats. Tuesday begins with the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Parade at 1.30 pm. Carriage horses brought to Hong Kong especially for the event will lead the parade from the Tamar site in Admiralty to the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and back.
There is nothing unusual about the tourist boards of Hong Kong, Macau and even Korea being among the 22 floats, but there is something decidedly odd about having a Santa Claus float. Three University of Lapland students designed the float, complete with artificial snow, reindeers and sleigh bells.
Wednesday promises more traditional fare, with the annual fireworks on the harbour at 8 pm. Make sure you arrive early to get a good view. The Peak, the Star Ferry terminal in Central and the waterfront between Tsim Sha Tsui and Hunghom offer the best vantage points.
And earlier in the day, the Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Fiesta at the Tamar site runs from noon until 10 pm, but road closures for the fireworks display mean that the last admission is 7.30 pm. Those eager to find out what the Year of the Horse has in store for them should look for the fortune-tellers among the dozens of booths selling arts and crafts and refreshments. RTHK radio DJs and local bands EO2, B2 and Shine will put on a performance from 1 pm to 2 pm.
Lunar New Year would not be complete without a trip to the flower market for some auspicious blooms to get the year off to a good start. Traditional favourites such as peach and kumquat trees, narcissus and tangerines will be available from the markets in Victoria Park and Fa Hui Park in Mongkok. The markets will stay open through the holiday season.
Sports fans can look forward to both football and horse racing. The two-day Carlsberg Cup will kick off on Tuesday at the Hong Kong Stadium and will see the Hong Kong team take on the mainland, Slovenia and Honduras. The second day's matches kick off on Friday. And the first horse race of the year will be held at Sha Tin on Thursday.