At dawn on the day of the ceremony, pilgrims mingle with 78 chen tou (performing groups) and 22 yi ke (float parades) on the way to the Tzu Chi Temple where they are greeted by a noisy chorus of cymbals, gongs and drums. After paying homage at the temple, they trace their ancestors 'footsteps left behind 320 years ago toward the landfall of Touchienliao.
祭典的那一天清晨，全台各地的香客、七十八隊陣頭、二十二個藝閣，便在震天的鐃鈸、鑼鼓和響板聲中，陸續湧向慈濟宮，拜會開基祖廟。然後尋著三百二十年前祖先的足跡，前往四公里外的頭前寮（當年登陸的地點）。