Several cities in Taiwan host large outdoor celebrations for New Year’s Eve. But consistently bad weather is causing one city to change things up.
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Fireworks light up Keelung during its annual New Year’s event. But the northeastern city has a reputation for its rainy weather, and the event has been plagued by bad weather for several years in a row. In 2022 people still turned out for the celebrations despite a heavy and uncomfortable downpour.
It’s nothing new for Keelung. The event saw heavy rains in 2018 and 2019. 2020 saw clear weather, but in-person gatherings were banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2021 was the only year in recent memory where people were able to enjoy the fireworks comfortably, with the return of heavy rain last year.
For this year’s event, Keelung City Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) is changing things up. A Christmas-themed celebration will be held on December 23. But the major change is his announcement that there will be no outdoor activities, as the event will be held indoors at a gymnasium. Taipei and New Taipei City meanwhile are moving ahead with their respective outdoor events.
Reactions from the public have been mixed. One woman says some people will probably feel disappointed by the change. Another woman says that the indoor Christmas event is worth a try and that maybe people will like it.
It seems that this year the citizens of Keelung will be trading in their raincoats in favor of Christmas sweaters.