Busan brims with holiday cheer
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Revel amid dazzling decorations at fun events
In December, the streets in Nampo-dong and Haeundae are illuminated by tens of thousands of light decorations.
This year, Gwangbok-ro in Jung-gu plays host to the Christmas Tree Cultural Festival, which features more than 400,000 lights, an enormous tree and other sparkling fixtures that illuminate streets in Haeundae-gu.
The seventh Busan Christmas Tree Cultural Festival takes place in Nampo-dong through Jan. 3, with the signature main tree set up in the middle of Gwangbok-ro.
Fabulous light fixtures extend from the main tree, which is decorated with some 60 bauble ornaments, to create a visual spectacle.
Because this year marks the 70th anniversary of Korean independence, the decor carries the message of reconciliation and peace. But more traditional Christmas ornaments also adorn the tree, with some depicting Santa Claus, his reindeer, winter sleds and snow. The city's roadside trees are lit up as well.
The festival showcases daily concerts and other attractive programs, including a Wish Tree, a charity auction and caroling.
The event is highly acclaimed and gradually making a name for itself as Busan's most iconic winter blowout, selected as the No. 1 festival by the International Festivals and Events Association.
But the festivities don't stop there. Haeundae Beach is also painted with waves of colorful lights in honor of the return of the Haeundae Light Festival. The gala runs through the end of February and centers on Haeundae Market and Gunam-ro, the entrance of the beach.
The 16-meter Christmas tree is so colossal that visitors can even stand inside it.
The light decorations seek to emulate soft starlight and the ocean's gentle waves, enticing locals and tourists to the beach.
In Gunam-ro, a huge structure known as the Star Bottle will be available on Dec. 24 and 31, for anyone to record their New Year's wishes.
A full itinerary of performances and official programming is scheduled to run in the garden in front of Haeundae-gu Office from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Dec. 24.
On Dec. 31, laser performances and electronic dance music will feature in Haeundae Beach Event Square to ring in the New Year. Tarot card readers and fortune cookies await visitors, as well.
- How to get there: To join the Christmas Tree Festival, go out exit 7 of Nampo Station on Metro line No. 1. To get to the Haeundae Light Festival, go out exit 3 or 5 from Haeundae Station and walk straight to reach Gunam-ro.
The source of news: Dynamic Busan
