Thanksgiving, Consolation, and Hope Theme Park Winter Festival Begins

by Cho Yongjun

Published 08 Dec.2021 10:59(KST)

Everland's Golden Illumination of Gratitude and Hope

Lotte World Adventure - Christmas Season Miracle Winter

[Asia Economy, Yongjun Cho, Travel Specialist]As theme parks enter the full winter season, the message of this winter festival is gratitude, hope, and comfort. Theme parks such as Everland and Lotte World have presented festivals expressing gratitude and hope to those exhausted by COVID-19.

◇Everland’s Winter of Gratitude and Hope, Everland 'Winter Wishes'

Everland is presenting winter content called 'Winter Wishes' themed around gratitude and hope. The Four Seasons Garden, a representative themed garden covering about 10,000㎡, transforms into the 'Golden Illumination' Winter Garden, conveying messages of gratitude and hope to families, friends, and medical staff enduring difficult times together.

At night, a special video of hopeful light cascading like a waterfall is projected on a large LED screen measuring 24m in length and 11m in height. Tens of thousands of color-changing lights are installed in the garden right in front of the screen, and romantic music plays, creating a fantastic lighting show called 'Symphony of Light' that runs twice daily for about 5 minutes each time.

The 'Christmas Fantasy,' where visitors can spend an exciting year-end atmosphere with Santa and heal, runs for 31 days until January 2 of next year. Parades and dance performances featuring Santa, Rudolph, and other Christmas icons are presented in various ways.

Additionally, the 'Christmas Market,' a winter cultural content representing Europe, is held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from December 10 to January 2 at Everland’s Holland Village.

A special photo zone expressing gratitude to medical staff dedicated to the frontlines of COVID-19 prevention is also set up in the Four Seasons Garden.

The special photo zone, created using thousands of vaccine vial-shaped containers, includes messages written by customers to medical staff through Everland’s social network service (SNS) comment event, inserted on the surface of the containers, conveying warm and heartfelt thanks.

◇Lotte World Operates 'Miracle Winter' Christmas Season of Hope and Comfort

Lotte World Adventure is operating the Christmas season event 'Miracle Winter' until the end of the year, delivering messages of hope and comfort.

A 'Santa Village' has been created, and a 'Santa Post Office' is scheduled to open soon. Lotte World Adventure collaborated with the Finland Tourism Board to recreate Finland’s Santa Village at the Meeting Plaza on the first floor. In a cabin set against the backdrop of the aurora, visitors can watch a greeting video from the 'official' Santa Claus of Finland’s Santa Village.

On the 13th, the 'Santa Post Office' will open. Visitors can send postcards to the Santa Post Office in Rovaniemi, Finland. During the Christmas season, they can even receive replies directly from Santa Claus. The first 1,000 visitors who purchase a package consisting of a comprehensive admission ticket and postcards at Lotte World can experience the Santa Post Office.

Inside the indoor adventure, a 'Dream Castle' photo zone depicting a snow-covered village has been created. The overbridge leading to Magic Island has become a 'Milky Way Tunnel' filled with starlight. The main bridge has transformed into a romantic street with falling snow. Attractions such as 'Snow White’s Castle' already attract attention on social network services (SNS) for their splendid lighting. A 3D mapping video with a winter concept, shown after sunset against the Magic Castle backdrop, enhances the Christmas atmosphere. Christmas performances are also abundant, with a new show called the 'Christmas Project' being introduced.

Lotte World stated, "Even with With-Corona (gradual return to daily life), we are thoroughly implementing quarantine and disinfection measures," and added, "We hope the Christmas season will convey hope for the recovery of daily life."