A limited number of discounted early-bird tickets for the Yilan International Children’s Folklore and Folkgame Festival go on sale today at convenience store chains across the nation, including 7-Eleven, Hi-Life, FamilyMart and Circle-K, to mark the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular child-themed events in Taiwan, the Yilan County Government announced yesterday.
The county government said it is providing 20,000 advance tickets for the festival this year, which runs from July 4 to Aug. 23 at Dongshan River Water Park (冬山河親水公園), at NT$150 for adults and NT$50 for children.
Regular ticket prices are NT$350 for adults and NT$200 for children on weekends and NT$250 for adults and NT$100 for children on weekdays, the government said.
The annual event is divided into three theme areas — stage performances, games and exhibitions, and exchanges, with different programs and facilities available for visitors of all ages, but especially for children, the government said.
This year, the stage performances showcase 22 child and adolescent performance troupes from 20 countries, including Russia, Serbia, Turkey and Bolivia, while the expositions are to feature creative works of paper, toys and house furnishings linked to logging, which used to be a major industry in Yilan, and a pavilion displaying the history of aircraft instrumentation, according to the event’s Web site.
In addition to various water games, an outdoor game at the festival this year features a 20 story, 14m tower where various physical and play programs are to be available to visitors, including a labyrinth, rock-climbing and more.
Since its establishment in 1996, the festival has featured 281 international groups from 89 countries and attracted more than 7 million visitors, the government said.
Additional reporting by Shih Hsiu-chuan
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