Tainan Xinying Shimmer Festival opens at Swan Lake Park

台南新營波光節在天鵝湖公園開幕

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan City Government on Sunday launched the Xinying Shimmer Festival at Swan Lake Park, transforming the lake into an immersive light-and-art space.

The city government said Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) attended the opening ceremony and led the lighting launch with residents. Now in its third year, the festival has attracted nearly 500,000 visitors since it began in 2024.

Liberty Times reported that this year’s theme, “Dream of Light,” is the first to combine light installations with storytelling elements. The festival features two original Taiwanese illustration characters that guide visitors through a connected visual narrative across the site.

The city’s Cultural Affairs Bureau said seven main artworks and a full lakeside lighting design were created to enhance the nighttime environment. The displays include interactive sound, motion, and water mist effects developed by local and international art teams.

The city said opening night performances included drumming by a local elementary school, piano music, and choral singing, per UDN. A community singing project also invited residents to rehearse and perform together.

The city government said the festival runs through March 8, with lights on daily from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., except on Lunar New Year’s Eve. Weekend shuttle buses and promotions with local businesses are offered to encourage tourism in Xinying District, per Yahoo News.