News / Yilan Children's Folk Games Festival to Close on the 25th with Joint Performances by 7 International Groups

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

The Yilan Children's Folk Games Festival will close tomorrow (the 25th). Since its opening, it has attracted over 500,000 visitors. On the closing day, continuing a long-standing tradition of the festival, seven dance troupes from around the world will perform in a “Closing Joint Show,” featuring events such as the Wujie Wanggong Fire-Walking Ceremony, Toucheng Ghost-Catching Festival, and Taiwanese Opera. The Lanyang Dance Troupe is responsible for choreography, with foreign groups performing cultural customs and dances full of local flavor.

▲Performances by dance troupes from various countries at the Children's Folk Games Festival. (Photo / fromthe Facebook page of the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (YICF, Yi Lan))

The Yilan County Cultural Affairs Bureau stated that starting at 6:40 p.m. on the 25th, the Lanyang Dance Troupe along with dance groups from Canada, Morocco, Russia, Thailand, Estonia, Venezuela, and Taiwan will hold the closing ceremony at the Water Park. Using specially designed costumes and dances, they will showcase folk celebrations with distinct flavors from various countries. Notably, foreign performers with blonde hair and blue eyes will also don traditional Chinese cheongsams for their acts.

▲Performances by various countries at the Children's Folk Games Festival. (Photo / from the Facebook page of the Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival (YICF, Yi Lan))

Local Yilan folk cultural activities such as the Wujie Township Traditional Fire-Walking Ceremony, the Sanxing Township Silver Willow Festival, and the Yuanshan Township Lantern Festival will also be incorporated into the performances. The 51-day-long Children's Folk Games Festival has attracted over 500,000 visitors. Organizers mentioned that the opening was affected by Typhoon Soudelor, resulting in fewer attendees compared to last year. With good weather expected for the closing event, they estimate over 10,000 people will participate.