Pirate ship docks at Happy Christmas Town — 10 free facilities to celebrate the New Year with kids

▲ New Taipei Happy Christmas Town offers 10 amusement facilities for public use free of charge during the holiday. (Photo / Provided by New Taipei City Government, the same applies below)

Reporter Chen Ruizhong / Comprehensive report

The final round of kid-friendly additions to the 2014 New Taipei City Happy Christmas Town is set to arrive during the New Year’s holiday. In addition to stage performances daily from 2:00–5:00 PM over the four-day break, three brand-new free amusement rides have been added to let parents and children ring in the New Year together.

The New Taipei City Government stated that during the four-day New Year’s holiday, the organizers have invited YOYO brothers and sisters, yo-yo master Yang Yuanqing, and diabolo expert Zhuo Jiahong to deliver exciting stage performances. A food market will also be set up at the Civic Plaza.

As for amusement facilities, in addition to free rides like the carousel and the happiness hot air balloon, three new attractions — the Soaring Plane, Penguin Train, and Pirate Ship — will be added to let kids enjoy themselves to the fullest.

Meanwhile, at the “Rascals’ Winter Playground” in front of Banqiao Station, there are five popular rides including the track train, carousel, coffee cup ride, mini express train, and inflatable castle, all available for free to children under 12. Next door, in the vast Wanping Park’s “OPEN Playground,” cartoon stars from the OPEN Little General family take center stage, with large cartoon character statues standing throughout the park, inviting visitors of all ages to take photos with them.