16 Sep 2015
Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Macau, not only because of the mild temperatures, with daytime averages of 25 degrees, but because of the host of exciting and colourful events that take place between September and November. Whether you are a culture vulture, a sports buff or a gourmet, here are some of the highlights:
Mid-Autumn Festival
27th September
Taking place on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar, this 3000-year-old festival is also known as the Moon Festival and is one of the most important annual events for Chinese people after Chinese New Year. Special “moon cakes” are made and shared with friends and family to wish them a long and happy life. At night everybody goes out to gaze at the moon lit by the warm glow of paper lanterns. Popular spots include all gardens, Nam Van Lake and the beaches in Coloane.
29th Macau International Music Festival
4th October – 1st November
A variety of local and internationally-acclaimed artists will head to Macau in October to take part in the 29th Macau International Music Festival. Under the theme “Soundmazing”, some of the highlights of the month-long programme include BBC Philharmonic – which will present Shubert's Symphony No. 9 “The Great” and Enigma Variations by Edward Elgar – and Charles Gounod's famous Faust performed by Lyric Opera of Chicago. Many performances take place at some of Macau's stunning World Heritage sites.
Venetian Macau Open 2015
15th – 18th October
With stunning views of the South China Sea, The Macau Golf and Country Club is one of Asia's most challenging golf courses and is home to this annual event which has become one of the most prestigious tournaments on the Asian Tour. Four-time major champion Ernie Els and six-time Asian Tour winner Scott Hend are two of the big players that will compete to win this year's title and its million-dollar cash prize. Since its debut in 1998, the Venetian Macau Open has provided a stern challenge for some of Asia's 140-plus leading golfers.
18th Lusofonia Festival
23rd – 25th October
Reflecting the western side of Macau's culture, the annual Lusofonia Festival brings together live musical performances, traditional games, handmade products, art collections and gastronomy from Portuguese-speaking territories including Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Goa, Daman and Diu, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé e Príncipe and East Timor as well as Macau and Portugal itself. The party lasts until midnight.
15th Macau City Fringe Festival
1st – 15th November
Just like Edinburgh, Macau has its own Fringe festival, characterised by quirky performances by both local and international artists. Taking place in different venues across Macau, the diverse and culturally-rich programme includes exhibitions, workshops, dance and music performances and theatre functions. The whimsical festival comes to an end after two weeks with a lively parade.
15th Macau Food Festival
13th – 29th November
Celebrating its 15th edition this year, the Macau Food Festival is one of Macau's most popular festivals. During 17 consecutive days, the event celebrates food from around the world, including delicious Asian, European and Macanese flavours – one of the world's first fusion cuisines – with exciting entertainment and fun for everyone at Sai Van Lake Square. In addition to tasty international and local food, visitors can also enjoy a variety of live musical performances, games, competitions and fireworks displays.
62nd Macau Grand Prix
19th – 22nd November
Celebrating 62 years this year, the Macau Grand Prix is one of Macau's most anticipated annual events and a favourite of motor sports fans. The world-class event, hosted by Macau since 1953, represents the climax of the Formula 3 calendar, with famous past winners including Ayrton Senna and David Coulthard. During the four official days of the Grand Prix, the city buzzes with excitement as the best motorcycle, WTCC and Formula 3 races compete on the Guia Circuit, one of the most challenging street circuits in the world.
www.macau.grandprix.gov.mo/cgpm/
For more information on Macau, please visit www.macautourism.gov.mo.
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For further media information and images contact:
Tom Panagos or Enrique Martin
Macau Government Tourist Office – UK & Ireland Representative
E: tom@humewhitehead.co.uk / enrique@humewhitehead.co.uk
T: +44 (0) 845 498 9980 / 9984
About Macau:
Located just 40 miles from Hong Kong on China's South coast, Macau continues to surprise and thrill visitors with an ever-evolving hotel, restaurant, shopping and entertainment scene, whilst retaining its unique Portuguese influences inherent in its culture, architecture, events and fusion cuisine. Chosen as one of the top 10 regions for travel in 2015 in Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2015, Macau packs a lot into its 11 square miles with an abundance of historical buildings, beaches, gardens, museums, spas, shopping malls, dazzling shows and activities ranging from golf to bungee jumping. A Special Administrative Region of China since 1999, Macau blends the best of the past with new and is fast becoming one of Asia's most intriguing destinations.
About the Macau Government Tourist Office:
The Macau Government Tourist Office is the tourism development arm of the government of the Macau SAR (Special Administrative Region) dedicated to promoting Macau as a preferred destination and co-ordinating related activities and services within the local tourism industry. www.macautourism.gov.mo
