TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – As always there are tons of interesting events happening all around Taipei this month. For those looking to experience what the city has to offer, here are some suggested activities to enjoy between Feb. 16 and Feb. 24.
The 2019 Taipei International Book Exhibition is taking place at the Taipei World Trade Center until Feb. 17. The annual event is a must for book lovers in Taiwan. A wide range of literature, magazines reference books, board games and other types of publications from around the world are on display at the 2019 TIBE. This year’s guest of honor is Germany, whose central pavilion at the exhibition provides a unique look into German culture and publishing history.
The first week after the Lunar New Year, the town of Pingxi holds its world-famous Sky Lantern Festival. There are two dates to enjoy the popular event this year in New Taipei City. The first is at the Pingxi Junior High School from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16, while the second is at the Shifen Sky Lantern Square from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, when the rest of the country celebrates the Lantern Festival.
(Photo from New Taipei City Travel Website)
The Luminaire light exhibition, originally from Kobe, Japan, has created a special display in Taiwan for the first time with the “2019 Taipei Banquet of Lights.” The exhibit consists of three main attractions, consisting of hundreds of thousands of LED light. The exhibit held near the Sun Yat Sen Memorial will finish on Feb. 19.
The dancer, choreographer and inventor Huang Yi is sharing his most recent theater production “A Million Miles Away” at the National Theater this weekend, Feb. 16 and Feb. 17. The performance takes place on a 9-meter diameter revolving stage, and shares a number of poignant scenes in a person’s life. Tickets can be purchased here. Check out a promotional trailer below.
The Burkina Faso Association in Taiwan is hosting an Africa Cultural Night on Saturday, Feb. 16 at the National Taiwan Normal University extension campus. Join for an exciting night of African culture, including food, music, dance and fashion. Check out the Facebook event page for info on reserving a ticket. Event runs from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with an after party planned for Triangle nightclub.
Another Latin Fiesta, organized by Latinos Taiwan & MAJI, is taking place at MAJI Square located near Yuanshan MRT Station this Saturday. For a family friendly time with excellent Caribbean food and music, come check out the MAJI Fiesta, Feb. 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Top Shelf Games and Another Brick are coming together to offer another “Craft Beer And Game Night” and Saturday, Feb. 16. Come taste some excellent micro-brews, and enjoy playing board games with friends. Check out the Facebook event page for more info.
(Photo from Another Brick)
For even more beer tasting, a special event hosted by ALCHEMA is taking place on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the Taiwan Tech Arena, offering a tour style tasting experience. Space is limited though, and you’ll need to book ahead using the form on the event's Facebook page (in Mandarin).
(Photo from ALCHEMA)
Photography lovers may be interested in the “International Photography Awards: 2017 Best of Show Exhibition” taking place this weekend. The 45 best photos submitted to the 2017 IPA competition are on display in Taipei this weekend, Feb. 16-18 on the first floor of the Dunnan Eslite.
An exhibition of Japanese miniature artist Tatsuya Tanaka titled “Miniature Life Exhibition" is currently on display at the Huashan Creative Park in Taipei. The exhibit opened Dec. 23, 2018 and will run unti March 3, 2019.
Artwork by Tatsuya Tanaka. (Photo from https://kidultkingdom.com)
Taipei’s Red Room art space is hosting its monthly “Stage Time and Wine” open-mic night on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Artists, poets, musicians, and other performers are welcome to join for a friendly and relaxed evening of creativity and shared experiences. Entry is NT$200 per person, with guests encouraged to bring a dish or snacks for the community table.
(Photo from Red Room Facebook)
A Wedding Dress Exhibition hosted by I-Wedding page and Original Ai, is being held at the Taipei World Trade Center this weekend, Feb. 15-18. The event will showcase bridal fashions from Japan, and a huge variety of other themed wedding decorations. Check the event page for more information.
The Taipei Biennial 2018, which began in mid-November, is still running until March 2019. Hosted by the Taipei Fine Arts Museum and the Goethe Institut Taipei, this year’s theme is “Post Nature: the Museum as an Ecosystem.”
Over the weekend of Feb. 22-24, four performances by a visiting Russian Ballet troupe will take place at the Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. Each of the four performances will showcase a separate ballet including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, the Nutcracker, and Cinderella.
For Hip-Hop fans, and those who might enjoy giving a performance of your favorite hip-hop jam, check out the first installment of Rock The Mic: Season 2, which is taking place on Feb. 23 at Dadaocheng's Ivy Palace.
FutureWard in cooperation with the PACK animal sanctuary is hosting a community market of second hand goods on Saturday, Feb. 23 at FutureWard Central near Nanjing Fuxing MRT station. If you would like to be a vendor, please contact the market organizers through the Facebook event page.
On Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Butterfly Hall, in Zhongshan District, Hiking BIJI (健行筆記) is hosting a huge second-hand market for hiking and camping goods. The market will run from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you have outdoor goods that are in good condition and would like to be a vendor, contact the event organizers through the Facebook event page.
From Feb. 22-24, Taiwan’s National Symphony Orchestra will be offering three performances of TOSKA, as part of the 2019 Taiwan International Festival of Arts. Tickets can be purchased from the event page.
On Sunday, Feb. 24, the 4th annual Woman High Showtime Party (女子HIGH) will be held at Corner House. The party is organized by women, and will feature talented female DJs. The event is open to all guests. In addition to the party, the day will also feature forums for thoughtful discussion on women's issues and a variety of creative performances. The cost is NT$700 per person. Check out the Facebook event page for more info.
One of the oldest popular ex-pat hangout’s in Taipei, the Brass Monkey is celebrating its 16th Anniversary Party on Saturday, Feb. 23. Come join for drink specials and good times. Party starts at 9:00 p.m.
Taipei’s Yand Ming Swing group is hosting another Swing Dance Party on Saturday, Feb. 23 featuring DJs and live music. All levels of experience are welcome to join the fun. Bring a partner, of come as alone and make new friends. The party starts at 7:30 p.m. at YM Swing. Entry is free but donations are appreciated for the band.
Japanese digital artist ANDAERφ is holding an art exhibit in Taipei, that starts on Feb. 23 and will run through March, 24 at the d/art gallery. ANDAERφ is known for fantastic landscapes and character drawings, which have been featured in a number of popular anime and videogames.
Regular Hangouts
If you want to put your English to use and enjoy an open forum to discuss different topics and hear presentations in English, check out the iEnglish Club English Gathering every Saturday.
If you're looking for a family friendly group to practice your English or your Chinese, consider checking out events with Language Exchange Taipei. They are having a free language exchange on Sunday afternoon at Lifehouse Taipei.
The LEIT Language Exchange group regularly hosts a huge number of activities. Check their events page for friendly hangouts and language exchange opportunities.
For the begining of 2019, Taiwan's Bobwundaye bar on Heping Rd. in the Da'an District will be hosting Wednesday Open Mic Nights for anyone who wants to share a little bit of their musical or artistic talent with an audience. The floor is opened for performances beginning at 10:00 p.m.
Everyone’s favorite Irish bar in Gongguan near NTU, James Joyce, is also hosting live music every weekend.
If you have a love of Indian food and culture, then you can always stop by the Mayur Indian Kitchen location on Songjiang Road, where they have regular dance performances or Indian music for dining customers on Saturday nights.
For those new to Taipei, or those who have been here a while but still haven't seen all the city has to offer, consider taking a walking tour with "Like it Formosa." Tours happen regularly every week, with four different types of tours to choose from, depending on what you want to see.
And depending on your interests, check this list of meet up groups regularly to see if there is anything up your alley.
