Halloween spirit descends on Seoul

Everland’s Halloween parade, held three times daily until Nov. 1, is full of surprises. Provided by Everland

Beware: Ghosts, goblins and cackling jack-o’-lanterns have arrived in Seoul ahead of Halloween.

Some area theme parks have already launched festivities to celebrate the famous American holiday, which falls on Oct. 31. They’re busting out the creepy costumes, adorning their attractions with spooky props and offering various games, events and promotions to get visitors into the spirit (pun intended).

Various venues in Seoul have long celebrated Halloween, but the events have evolved from mere costume parties to extravaganzas designed to induce the participation of visitors.

Seoul Land in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, for instance, is holding an event called “Ghost Hunter.” As the name suggests, visitors roam around catching ghosts that are wandering around the theme park. Captured ghosts will give away different-colored balls. Hunters who collect all five colors can then go to the restaurant Crouton and get a serving of Ghost Cream Pasta or Dracula Black Squid Ink Pasta for free. Visitors can also try on costumes at the restaurant, which is decked out in a Halloween theme, and get pictures taken. Additionally, they can play a game of rock-paper-scissors with the ghosts and receive candy and chocolates if they win.

Two of the costumed characters roaming about at Seoul Land. Provided by Seoul Land

There are also dance performances by ghost characters throughout the theme park, and laser shows, fireworks and rock concerts will be held at 8:30 p.m. nightly through the end of the month.

Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi, is also hosting numerous Halloween-related events. This year’s celebration is titled “Halloween Adventure Stamp Rally.” Visitors are given stamp books at the entrance. They need to get three stamps from any 10 select attractions in the theme park. After achieving this goal, they must navigate through a 100-meter-long (328 feet) Halloween Maze. At the end of the maze, they will be greeted with cheers as well as stickers and candy.

They can also participate in a drawing by putting their stamp books in a box. Prizes include free tickets to Everland. The theme park also features a parade with 11 monster characters, 52 performers and four floats decorated with cobwebs and jack-o’-lanterns. The parade, held three times daily, covers 650 meters and includes music and dancing. It ends at Carnival Square, where the monsters and performers interact with visitors. The Halloween events continue through Nov. 1.

Lotte World in southeastern Seoul is offering a parade at 5:30 p.m. daily and a Halloween-themed musical. The parade includes 80 characters - including monsters, witches and even Dracula.

At the theme park’s Garden Stage, a musical titled “Love of Dracula” is performed at 12:30 and 8:30 p.m. daily except Mondays. During the show, performers in Halloween costumes do acrobatics and dance.

Many hotels also are gearing up for Halloween.

The W Seoul-Walkerhill, for instance, will host a party at its Woo Bar on Oct. 31 - recreating the ambience of a 1980s disco club - while the Hilton Namhae Golf and Spa Resort in Namhae County, South Gyeongsang, is offering a special buffet at its restaurant, Breeze, for 36,000 won ($31) for adults and 18,000 won for kids.

By Limb Jae-un [jbiz91@joongang.co.kr]