Busan Christmas Tree Festival to light up Gwangbokno
- Contents
-
Visitors to Gwangbokno (road) in Jung-gu District will be a guaranteed a white Christmas with all the trimmings this year as the organizing committee is set to launch a 40-day Christmas Tree Festival at 7 p.m. on December 1 that will light up the street with a large tree and paint the area white with artificial snow until January 9.
Festival organizers have been working with city authorities and Christian organizations to make sure the event goes off without a hitch in order to bring more romance and magic to the city over the festive period.
Various Christmas decoration lights that fit the festival’s theme will also be put into action, while on the main square, a 12-meter-tall tree will be set up. Decorative figures will illuminate the streets and help form a tunnel of light in the sky, while another part of the venue will be turned into a Christmas-themed photo zone.
A calendar of performances and experience-based programs have also been lined up to make sure the festival goes off with a bang.
After the opening ceremony on December 1, there will be a celebratory parade, followed by various musical shows each night including a harmonica performance, singing show, guitar concert and magic show.
On weekend evenings, taekwondo shows and concerts will take place on a large stage on Gwangbokno.
Meanwhile, at a nearby cafe, guitar and harmonica players will keep visitors entertained. And the Mt. Yongdu Danan theater will offer plays free of charge every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night.
There is also a special area for people from around the country to test their theatrical, singing or other skills with the “I am Christmas Star” program. The preliminary round will take place from December 28 to 30 and the final round is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on December 31.
Another contest that has been organized aims to collect photographs online of happy families and their magic moments while enjoying Gwangbokno together.
Visitors can also head to the Tree of Hope and hang their wishes for the New Year on its branches. For more detailed programs, please visit the official web site (www.bctf.kr). Additionally, Jung-gu District and the festival’s organizing committee are putting in place a series of measures for the convenience of tourists.
At peak times, cars will be prohibited from entering Gwangbokno so visitors can walk around freely. Volunteers will be on hand on various parts of the street to field questions and help tourists find their way around. There is also an interpretation service for foreigners in English, Chinese and Japanese.
• Information: Busan Christmas Tree Festival organizing committee (051-256-1225)
The source of news: Dynamic Busan
