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Thundering Drums and Giant Floats at the 2009 Hope Parade

The 2009 Hope Parade kicked off with an exotic parade featuring street artists, individuals in costumes, and gigantic floats. The participants set off from CKS Memorial Hall in the afternoon of October 17, making their way to the event venue at Ketagalan Boulevard.
Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin welcomed the participants – both young and old – to the event and hoped that everyone will be able to realize their dreams and exercise their creativity in the streets of Taipei.
Following his address, the mayor donned a straw hat and cape before heading off with the main float of the parade – “Farmer and Water Buffalo” – at the head of the procession. The unique float is based on the story from the Kavalan Tribe about settling in a new land. A group of senior citizens between the age of 50 and 80 played the role of the pioneer farmers, dancing to the rhythm of samba music.
According to the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI), the institution organized the first street parade and carnival in Taipei back in 2006. The theme of the original parade focused on animal conservation, and the small group of participants made their way around the neighborhood of Taipei 101. After receiving positive feedbacks from locals, JGI began organizing the event on an annual basis. This year, the event attracted 60 organizations and 15,000 participants.
To prepare for the parade, the organizers held three workshops in the month of September. They invited over 20 local and foreign artists to head the workshop, teaching participants how to make floats and costumes with recyclable materials.
The sponsors of the 2009 Hope Parade include Taipei City Government, Dream Community, and JGI.