**************************************
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present a New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival at Sha Tin Park, Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza and Podium featuring a variety of entertainment by local troupes and performing groups from Russia and Italy. The carnival will start at 8.30pm tomorrow (December 31) and run until 12.30am, January 1. Admission is free.
An Italian-style countdown castle located at Sha Tin Park, is one of the attractions. European nobles, musicians and jugglers will amuse revellers with performances and entertainment, sharing the joy of the countdown party. The castle will also be open to the public from 6pm to 10pm on December 30 and January 1.
Other activities will include physical and dance theatre, acrobatics, a clown and magic tricks, marching band, tap dance and flamenco.
The stage at the Sha Tin Town Hall Plaza will present TOYS Theatre from Russia, featuring simple stories with music, dance, body movements and clown performances.
Equally fascinating on stage is the Katakl㫳 Athletic Dance Theatre from Italy. Having performed in the Opening Ceremony of the Turin Winter Olympics 2006, this troupe of gymnasts will charm people with their elegant movement accompanied by original choreography and music. A re-run of Katakl㫳 Athletic Dance Theatre will also be held on January 1 from 8pm to 9pm.
The rhythm and passion of tap dance and flamenco as well as pipe and drum performances will add to the excitement, while clown, magic and acrobatic performances will bring some fun to the show.
Roving artists in costumes will greet visitors to the carnival, wishing them a happy new year.
In the afternoons, Equestrian Fun Park will be held at the park's Verandah, featuring the following programmes:
1) Exhibition on Discovering the Equestrian World (Dec 31, 1pm﷿midnight; Jan 1, 1-5pm);
2) Fun Posing with Pony (Dec 31, 1-3pm and 3.30pm﷿5pm);
3) Clearing Obstacles: Sharing with Nelson Yip (Dec 31, 1pm-2.15pm, 4pm-4.45pm); and
4) Dressed for Dressage ﷿ An Equestrian Demonstration (Dec 31, 3pm-3.30pm).
People are urged to help keep the public areas clean and to respect public property. Aerosol sprays, metallic balloons and bottles are prohibited at the venues.
Ends/Saturday, December 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:30
NNNN
