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MAGAZINE, July 2002.
Diversions:
2002
I-lan International Children's Folklore & Folkgame Festival
Information provided
by the Lan Yang Cultural and Educational Foundation with editing
and additional reporting by Selena Huang / Translated by Cheryl
Robbins
Photos by Huang Shih-chi and Lin Hsin-hung
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The
annual I-lan Children's Folklore & Folkgame Festival, which
received a record 800,000 visitors last year, starts the first
weekend in July and promises to be as popular as ever, with
performances, exhibits, games and water fun for the whole family. |
Multi-cultural performances are
the focus of this unique event. This year, 17 countries will be
represented, including Russia, Italy, Yugoslavia, Korea, Nepal and
Sri Lanka, bringing music and dance shows and handicrafts demonstrations
that provide opportunities to learn about a number of countries.
| The
festival's exhibitions are centered around the theme, "The
Remotest Corners of the World are Just Next Door". As in
previous years, topics will include the history and culture
of a number of different countries. Information is presented
with photographs, text and unique objects. It is hoped that
visitors will take away with them the idea that children's play
knows no national borders. |
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Serge Durin is well-known in France
for creating unique musical instruments and promises to bring to
this festival a series of unique musical sculptures. These large
musical instruments will be housed in a traditional Taiwanese bamboo
hut, where Chinese opera and percussion performances will also take
place.
In Chinese culture, children like
to wear fragrant sachets during the Dragon Boat Festival. In Germany,
there is the famous fairy tale about a pied piper who uses music
to lead all of the rats out of the city. During Easter in the United
States, children dye eggs and, on Halloween, families carve jack-o-lanterns.
In the festival's celebration gallery, participants can learn about
different holidays and festivals from cultures around the world.
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An
exhibition of illustrations from Hans Christian Andersen's
fairy tales promises to be a hit with visitors. Original illustrations,
as well as those produced by 16 international artists, capture
the essence of Andersen's "magic garden" of stories.
The
games area features a 3-D maze. Those who have visited this
festival in previous years will find that a lot of changes
have been made to this feature. Attractions include a log
bridge, spinning platform, viewing tower, obstacle course
and fun house.
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The water games area is the most
tempting part of the festival on a hot summer's day. Take the time
to play in the "water maze", which includes columns of
water that appear and disappear under computer control. A DJ provides
music and there is a light show to go along with the water fun.
There are also large and small "reverse water mazes".
These are the combination of music, a light show, giant waterbeds
and water columns.
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Follow the twists and turns
of the "Amazing Tunnel" and experience water columns
shooting at you in all directions. Further along, in the simulated
typhoon section, experience the intensity of gale-force winds.
You will need to bring goggles and earplugs to enter this
attraction.
Clearly, with so much to see
and do, it isn't difficult to understand why this is such
a popular event.
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Event Information:
Dates: July 6 to August 18, 2002
Hours: 8:30 am- 8:30 pm
Location: Ching Shui Park, Dung Shan River, Ilan
Admission: General NT$350 (weekends), NT$250 (weekdays) [same price
for adults and children above 110 cm in height]; passes good for
multiple visits are available for NT$600; free admission for children
under 110 cm in height, senior citizens 65 and older and those with
a disability certificate
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International
folk dance performances will take place in the Ilan County Performing
Arts Hall
Dates and Times: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30
pm for the duration of the festival
Location: Ilan County Performing Arts Hall (106, WeiShui Rd.,
Ilan City; tel. 03-936-9115, ext.114¡^
Tickets: General NT$150; NT$120/person for groups of 10 to 19;
NT$100/person for groups of 20 or more. Festival ticketholders
can purchase tickets at the group rate. |
For further information, contact
the Lan Yang Cultural and Educational Foundation at (03) 931-0720
or the Ilan County Government Cultural Affairs Bureau at (03) 9322440,
ext.361
Website: http://www.folkgame.org.tw
E-mail:folkgame@ilccb.gov.tw
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