Text/Photo report by Chen Guanxin, MOOK Travel Life Network
During the summer vacation, cultural and artistic events are taking place across Taiwan. This year’s “2012 New Taipei City Children's Art Festival” runs from today until August 12 at Civic Square. During the event, Civic Square will be transformed into a fairy-tale kingdom, featuring challenges, DIY activities, and fantasy theater. In addition to water dance pyramids and water mazes, the site also includes a chocolate fountain over ten meters tall—the tallest in the world. Furthermore, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings, performances will be staged by France’s mechanical puppet troupe La Machine and domestic acts such as the YOYO Family. On August 12, there will also be a family cosplay costume competition, with the first prize being a cash award of NT$15,000.
The over-ten-meter chocolate fountain is the most eye-catching attraction at the event. (Photo provided by New Taipei City Government Department of Cultural Affairs)
This year’s “New Taipei City Children's Art Festival” centers around fairy tales and takes place at Civic Square in New Taipei City, featuring a series of facilities, hands-on experiences, games, and art programs. Among them, the over-ten-meter chocolate fountain in the fairy-tale kingdom continuously flows with richly scented chocolate. The water dance pyramid and water maze offer a refreshing "rainbow water dance." For interactive games, there are DIY workshops like the "Old Goat Laboratory" and challenge games such as the "Fairy Tale Village Obstacle Course." Not only can participants create eco-friendly toy cars and water guns from recycled bottles, but those who complete all 10 challenges in the obstacle course can enter a lucky draw with a chance to travel to Hong Kong Disneyland with their families.
Additionally, fantasy theater performances are scheduled for 19:30 every Friday evening, and 18:00 every Saturday and Sunday evening during the event. This year’s performing groups include three overseas troupes—France’s mechanical puppet troupe La Machine, the stilt puppet troupe Une De Plus, and the animated music theater Carton Park—as well as domestic acts such as the Dance Bell Theater, If Kids Theater, Cai Feng Music Troupe, Haishan Theater, New Image Creation Theater, Nine Songs Children's Theater, Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf, and the YOYO Family. They will present diverse performances including acrobatics, drama, percussion, and animated music to entertain children and adults alike.
This year also features a “Family COSPLAY Costume Competition,” with registration open from now until August 3. The competition has two stages: the first, a preliminary round called “Photos Tell a Story,” requires participants to design creative fairy tales through costume photos and written descriptions, with 30 teams advancing to the finals. The second stage, the finals, is a “Live Fashion Show” held at Civic Square on August 12, where the first-place winner will receive a cash prize of NT$15,000.
In addition, this year’s Children's Art Festival collaborates with various municipal museums, libraries, arts districts, and the Xinzhuang Arts Center to offer a variety of experience courses, film screenings, and performance programs. Examples include the “Hand Puppet Workshop” at Xinzhuang Arts Center, the “Play with Clay, Learn English” DIY course at Yingge Ceramics Museum, the “Heritage Theater” at Tamsui Historic Site Museum, the “Adventure Summer” animation film festival at Fuzhou 15, and the “Kids’ Toys & Modern Crafts Exhibition” at the 435 Arts District.These activities add an artistic touch to children’s summer vacation. Event website: www.newtaipeicitycaf.tw.
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