Seocho to kick off 4th Seoripul Festival
People reach out to gigantic balloon puppets on a street in Bangbae-dong in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, during last year's Seoripul Festival parade. / Courtesy of Seocho-gu Office
By Lee Suh-yoon
The streets of Seocho-gu in southern Seoul will come alive with art and music performances as the district's annual Seoripul Festival kicks off on Saturday for a nine-day run.
Over 20 music performances, including operas, musicals and plays, will take place around the district. Various events are also planned, such as book-trading, pet talent shows, and a parade of senior citizens dressed in school uniforms from the 1970s and 80s.
This year's festival theme is “United in Youth.” A host of young artists will star in the festival to display their singing and b-boying skills.
The last three festivals attracted 520,000 visitors. This year, the organizers are expecting around 150,000.
The highlights of this annual festival, including the main parade, Korea-France music festival and a fireworks show, will take place at Banpo Hangang Park on Sept. 16, the last day of the festival.
Residents ride horses through Seocho's Maljuk Street, where travelers from and to the capital during the 1392-1910 Joseon era used to feed their horses, in last year's Seoripul Festival. / Courtesy of Seocho-gu Office
On this day, 3,800 square meters of the riverside path in front of Sebitseom will become an open canvas for young visitors to fill up with chalk drawings.
The nearby parade will star comedian Park Myung-soo as the DJ and feature a gigantic three-tier cake to celebrate the 30th birthday of Seocho-gu Office.
Over 500 Seocho residents, organized into 18 different teams, will also partake in the parade.
The parade will be followed by the 10th Korea-France music festival and a 15-minute fireworks show.