The Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival kicks off, featuring a groundbreaking Jimmy Liao Children's Picture Book Museum to captivate visitors

Tourism Center / Reported from Taipei

Following the closure of the Green Expo, the next major event is the “2013 Yilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival.” Themed “Rotation,” this 18th edition of the festival used three giant spinning top balloons at the Green Expo’s closing ceremony to symbolize the turning of the event. County Magistrate Lin Tsong-shyan pushed the balloons toward the audience, and everyone counted from one to 18 together. The balloons eventually landed in the hands of three lucky individuals who received Children's Folklore Passports, allowing them to enjoy the 51-day festival to the fullest.

Chen Liang-chi, a spokesperson for Yilan County’s Cultural Affairs Bureau, said that this year, the Dongshan River Water Park has invited award-winning designer Xiao Qingyang—who has been nominated four times for a Grammy Award in the United States—to create a brand-new visual identity for the festival. Additionally, internationally renowned picture book author Jimmy Liao, who hails from Yilan, has designed exclusive installations for the event for the first time, including the “Play 'Round Jimmy Liao Children's Picture Book Museum,” the “Galactic Water Vortex” inspired by the concept of a washing machine, and the wildly popular “Dinosaur Sports Field” loved by children. These are the three hottest super attractions of the summer.

▲ Xiao Qingyang designed seven cartoon characters for the festival. (Photo / ETtoday)

Pre-sale tickets for the Children's Folklore Festival are now on sale until July 5. They can be purchased at major convenience store chains such as 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, and Hi-Life. Tickets are also available from June 1 to 30 at the Yilan County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau and the Luodong Cultural Factory. The price of a weekend individual pre-sale ticket is NT$300, and a weekday individual ticket is NT$200, both NT$50 cheaper than during the event period. Weekend child tickets are NT$200, and weekday child tickets are NT$100—also NT$50 less than during the event.

Special discounts are also offered for the Children's Folklore Passport, especially for residents of Yilan County. During the pre-sale period, a regular county resident’s passport costs just NT$300—NT$100 less than the event price—and allows unlimited entries to the park for unlimited fun. The pre-sale period for the Children's Folklore Passport runs from June 1 to June 30. To purchase, bring a copy of your household registration or ID card along with a 2-inch front-facing photo to the Yilan County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau or the Luodong Cultural Factory.