We had a wonderful, chatty tour guide on the bus. She was as cute and charming as she could be. I am sorry I don't have a picture of her. At the end of the tour she said she was dismayed that none of the men on the tour had proposed to her. Her parents want her to get married but she said she wouldn't be able to work if she was married. She would have to stay home and care for her mother-in-law. This was all in jest but there was a kernal of truth.
This festival is held in August each year when the floats are paraded around town. We visited on Oct 6 so we didn't see the parade. The floats are so popular that people come to see them even when they are just sitting in a viewing area. A museum to display the floats was opened in 2011.
"The main attraction is large, colorful and dramatic human-shaped floats called Nebuta, 9 meters wide, 7 meters deep and 5 meters high, most of them resembling ancient warlords, historical characters and kabuki characters in early days."
The floats were lit by candles and were banned in some years because of the fire hazard. Over time, the frames were changed to wire from bamboo and the light sources became safer. Here is a picture of a float frame.
Bill in front of a Nebula or float.
The floats are very heavy. Several men are needed to lift a float. Each Nebula can weigh four tons and be roughly 30 feet wide, 20 feet long and 15 feet high.
Volunteers from the group were chosen to lift up a smaller float. I volunteered and was selected. All of us together strained to lift it, let alone walk around town with it.
