A visitor posing for the camera with children dressed in monkey costumes during the lighting up ceremony for Chinese New Year at the Esplanade in Light Street. — Photos: GARY CHEN/The Star
SEVERAL streets in the George Town heritage enclave have been beautifully lit up to bring the Lunar New Year mood to the public.
Church Street, Bishop Street, King Street, Light Street and Penang Street are now aglow with 4,000 LED bulbs and lanterns.
The Esplanade too is full of colourful and animated decorative lighting with a dozen big red lanterns strung on a metal frame with elaborated ornaments to usher in the Year of Monkey.
Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik, who is the Penang Chinese New Year Celebration 2016 organising committee chairman, said they would give away some 200,000 red packets to the public for free during their roadshows to promote the event.
He said the angpow packets came with image of a monkey holding an ancient coin that represents wealth.
He told reporters at the launch of theangpow packets and a lighting-up ceremony with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng recently.
Meanwhile, thundering beats of the war drums will pump up the mood during the Chinese New Year Cultural Performance celebration at Chew Jetty in Weld Quay.
Lim’s political secretary Wong Hon Wai said other attractions were lion on stilts dance, cultural dances, wushu demonstration, choir recital and juggling performance.
He said the show would be held at the open car park in Weld Quay on Feb 15, which is the eight day of the Lunar New Year.
He added that the event would start from 8pm to 1.30am the next day.
“The chief minister is expected to open the event at 11pm on that day.
“There will also be fireworks display at the stroke of midnight,” he said during a press conference at Komtar yesterday.
Wong said they had invited International Trade and Industry Minister II Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, members of Penang MCA and Penang Gerakan, and all state MPs and state assemblymen to join in the festive celebration.
The event is co-organised by George Town World Heritage Incorporated, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Lau Keng Ee’s service centre, Tanjong MP Ng Wei Aik’s service centre, Chew Jetty Kongsi and Penang Global Tourism.
