Korea’s theme parks show off spring colors

Theme parks around Korea are decking themselves out in flowers to greet the new season. This weekend, their spring festivals begin.

Everland
Everland, in Yongin, Gyeonggi province, hosts a tulip festival until April 10. The park’s 20-square-kilometer (8-square-mile) Four Seasons Garden (pictured above) is covered with 140 kinds of tulips. It’s open nightly until 10 p.m., lit up with halogen bulbs. Four Seasons Garden also hosts Olympus Fantasy, a 15-minute multimedia show based on Greek mythology, nightly at 9 p.m.
Another festival attraction is European Carnival, featuring 39 European performers doing 15th-century circus feats. It’s held every day but Monday in the park’s European Square.
For more information, call (031) 320-5000.

Lotte World
Lotte World in southern Seoul presents “Spring Spring Festival” until the end of April. Inline skaters dressed as flowers, butterflies and fairies will dart around the theme park, taking pictures with spectators. They’ll gather at the Garden Stage daily at 11:30 a.m., 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., accompanied by a live band.
For more information, call (02) 411-2000.

Seoul Land
This park in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi province, also boasts tulip blossoms this season; the park’s Global Square will be overflowing with them through mid-May. In Samcheonni Theater, five bears from Russia’s Bolshoi Circus troupe will do handstands and other tricks daily at 2 and 5 p.m. At night, the park presents laser shows, magic performances and musicals.
Starting April 4, a parade with 100 performers will be held at 3 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. Another weekend attraction is a magic show, at which pantomime artists will come out to teach spectators a few tricks. That’s held weekends at noon and at 6 p.m. For more information, call (02) 504-0011.

by Chun Su-jin