Early visitors trickled into Victoria Park on Friday afternoon, hoping to catch a detailed glimpse of colorful lantern displays before the traditional evening rush of the Mid-Autumn Festival took hold.
The annual Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival has drawn steady throngs of onlookers since opening Sept. 17, with lengthy queues regularly snaking through the park grounds during peak nighttime viewing hours.
For some, an afternoon arrival offered an opportunity to appreciate the artisan work without jostling against evening festival crowds. One visitor said she deliberately came during the day to focus on the craftsmanship of the exhibits, noting that this year’s collection stood out for incorporating both Chinese cultural motifs and global themes. She observed that evening visits offered festive atmosphere, but made it difficult to inspect the intricate details before crowds took over.
She noted that she still plans to return on a future evening to experience the lanterns illuminated against the night sky. Another daytime visitor remarked that she was passing through the area and similarly decided to tour the grounds early to circumvent the nighttime surge.
Faced with substantial public turnout, local authorities announced Wednesday that illumination hours at Victoria Park would be extended until midnight through Sunday. Officials also lengthened the carnival’s overall run by an additional week, keeping displays open until Oct. 4 to accommodate further visits from residents and tourists.
The festive enthusiasm extended beyond public parks to the city’s dining scene. Simon Wong, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, reported brisk trade across Chinese restaurants, with numerous venues fully booked for Friday night.
Characterizing overall market activity as satisfactory, Wong projected that citywide catering revenue for the evening could reach between 320 million and 350 million Hong Kong dollars (about $41 million to $45 million).
