Taichung celebrates all of Taiwan’s public holidays plus a couple of extra occasions that are unique to the city. The Chinese lunar calendar provides the greatest source of festivities with New Year celebrations among the liveliest. Festivals with Buddhist themes are also prevalent, while the Taichung Jazz Festival in September offers something different and is a popular affair with both residents and visitors alike.

Founding of the Republic of China and New Year's Day: festivities celebrating both New Year’s Day and the establishment of the Republic of China in 1912 are held from during the first three days of the month.

Chinese New Year: along with the rest of Taiwan and mainland China, Taichung celebrates the lunar New Year with great enthusiasm. Residents of the city enjoy time off from work to participate in a variety of festivities. Typically locals settle their debts, purchase new clothes, clean their houses and make spiritual offerings at this time of year. Fireworks are set off across the city throughout New Year celebrations.

Lantern Festival: this festival falls on the 15th day of the first moon of the new lunar year and is also commonly referred to as Shang Yuan Festival. Shops sell brightly coloured paper lanterns in the shape of animals, birds and famous historical figures which locals light and hang outside their homes. Children can be seen carrying the same lanterns to and from school providing colourful early morning and afternoon spectacles.

International Dajia Mazu Festival: held on the 23rd day of the third lunar month, this festival sees hundreds of thousands of pilgrims flock to the city’s Jhenlan Temple for a variety of activities including live performances and cultural exhibitions aimed at celebrating the goddess Matsu's birthday.

Tomb Sweeping Day: also known as Qingming Festival, this annual affair sees locals pay tribute to their deceased ancestors by cleaning their tombs and making offerings of food and flowers.

Duanwu Festival: falling on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, this event is also known as the Dragon Boat Festival on account of the lively dragon boat races held at waterways across the country. Taichung has its own races which are thrilling affairs accompanied by the beating of drums, waving of flags and enthusiastic cheering from onlookers. Locals prepare and eat sticky rice flour dumplings known as zongzi on this day.

Festival of Ghosts: locals believe that on the first day of the seventh lunar month spirits are permitted ascension from the underworld to the world of the living. Locals make offerings of food and burn money to appease the aggrieved souls of the dead.

Taichung Jazz Festival: this popular musical event is a celebration of jazz in its many forms and sees a variety of artists from different genres assemble to showcase their talents.

Mid-Autumn Festival: also known as Autumn Moon Festival, this is a time for family reunions and enjoying delicious moon-shaped cakes filled with coconut, almond, sesame, walnut and lotus seeds.

Double Ninth Day: named because it falls on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, this festival celebrates the Chinese concept of Yang (the number nine is associated with the concept). On this day, locals typically head for the countryside to enjoy activities such as kite-flying.

Double Ten Day: the national day of the Republic of China is a celebration of the events that led to the Wuchang Uprising of 10 October 1911. Locals enjoy enthusiastic celebrations based around a variety of festivities.

New Year’s Eve: although this is not the last day of the lunar calendar, Taiwanese citizens still celebrate this day with fun festivities and colourful activities.