TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Tainan will hold its first military dependents village New Year fair in Yongkang District from Jan. 23-25, ahead of the Lunar New Year.

The city government said Wednesday the fair will run daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. along Yonghua Road and at Yongkang Exploration Education Park. The government said the event provides an opportunity for people to shop for holiday goods while experiencing the atmosphere of traditional military dependents villages.

Mayor Huang Wei-che (黃偉哲) said Yongkang District has the highest number of military dependents households in Tainan, making it a natural choice for the city’s first fair of this kind. He said the event aims to preserve village culture and bring people together during the holiday season.

UDN reported the fair will feature nearly 100 stalls selling military village-style food and New Year goods. The office said live shows and cultural performances have been arranged to encourage visitors to stay longer.

Officials said the fair is linked to the ongoing Tainan Shopping Festival, a citywide campaign to boost spending. Shoppers who scan digital coupons at stalls can enter prize draws, with more chances given to those who spend more.

The shopping festival will run through March 1, with prizes including an electric car, home appliances, hotel stays and cash rewards. 

A military dependents village is a residential area built to house the families of soldiers, especially in Taiwan after the KMT arrived. Many of these communities later became cultural heritage sites, known for their unique architecture and Chinese influences.