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Lo Hoi-ying

Hong Kong’s first large-scale balloon float parade, featuring beloved icons such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the city’s baby panda cubs, attracted hundreds, including young children, to the West Kowloon Cultural District on Sunday.
Families lined the paths of the West Kowloon Art Park as the parade of 16 giant helium balloons made a loop between the Hong Kong Palace Museum and contemporary art museum M+, accompanied by a youth marching band.
The event brought together characters from popular intellectual properties (IPs) such as SpongeBob, Garfield, Mr Potato Head from the Toy Story films, the Care Bears, LuLu the Piggy and Cocomelon.
It also featured unique local IPs such as Ocean Park’s Panda Friends and a mobile ice cream van from the Hong Kong Machines art series.

The Peppa Pig balloon proved to be a clear crowd favourite, attracting shouts of joy from the crowds as it came around a bend in the route. Parents also rushed to get photos of their children standing next to their favourite characters as the parade went by.
The parade briefly paused at certain points as staff worked to stabilise the balloons when the winds picked up, but still managed to carry on the event.
Parents told the Post that they enjoyed the event, despite a wait for it to start, and said it had brought joy to their children. They added that they hoped similar events would come to Hong Kong in future.
Several parents who managed to find seats along the parade route said they had arrived at 11am to ensure they could get a good view of the balloons.
Sitting on picnic mats and enjoying some snacks, parade spectator Lucy Ho said she and her children were very impressed by the inflatables, adding that the family had attended because it was a first for Hong Kong.
Ho said her children’s favourite characters were Marshall from the animated TV series Paw Patrol and the giant baby panda cubs.

Fellow park patron Monica Kim, who brought her two-year-old son, said they had not known about the parade before coming to the West Kowloon Cultural District on Sunday.
She said the balloons were impressive and described the event’s atmosphere as fun and lively.
“In the morning, the balloon park was open only to younger children and had themed zones with different characters, which is better than the other bouncy castles,” she said, adding that her son’s favourite character was also Marshall from Paw Patrol.
She said the West Kowloon Art Park, which the family regularly visits, was a great venue for such events.
“I wish there were more such events catered for young families and children,” the 38-year-old said.
The parade served as the finale for the “Merry Balloon Hong Kong” winter festive event, which launched on November 24 last year.
Other highlights included a “Merry Balloon Park”, which featured bouncy castles and giant inflatables of the 16 IP characters, in the same space.


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Hong Kong culture

Panda cubs, SpongeBob and Peppa Pig head to Hong Kong arts hub for balloon parade

The parade was held at the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Sam Tsang.

The parade briefly paused at certain points as staff worked to stabilise the balloons when the winds picked up, but still managed to carry on the event. Photo: Sam Tsang

Parents have said they hope similar events can happen in Hong Kong in future. Photo: Sam Tsang

SpongeBob, Garfield among 20 characters joining Hong Kong’s IP carnival

The event’s organiser has said Hong Kong is in “a leading position” in the IP business. Photo: Karma Lo

The Hong Kong Machines brand is among the IPs that will appear at the festival. Photo: Karma Lo

Hong Kong arts hub to host bouncy fun park, inflatable characters for Christmas

The Merry Balloon Park will be held in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Photo: Handout

The tickets for the temporary installation on the Great Lawn at the Art Park went on sale via Klook on Monday. Photo: Handout

News

Hong Kong

Society

City’s first large-scale inflatable characters parade serves as finale for ‘Merry Balloon Hong Kong’ winter festive event


City’s first large-scale inflatable characters parade serves as finale for ‘Merry Balloon Hong Kong’ winter festive event.


West Kowloon Cultural District

Hong Kong’s pandas

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong society

Panda cubs, SpongeBob and Peppa Pig head to Hong Kong arts hub for balloon parade

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City’s first large-scale inflatable characters parade serves as finale for ‘Merry Balloon Hong Kong’ winter festive event

City’s first large-scale inflatable characters parade serves as finale for ‘Merry Balloon Hong Kong’ winter festive event