[Travel Bits] Festivals, sights across Korea

Muju Firefly Festival

The Muju Firefly Festival is scheduled to take place across the areas of Muju Deungnamu Stadium, North Jeolla Province, Aug. 27-Sept. 4.

The Muju’s pristine environment provides a natural habitat for fireflies. Night-time programs include firefly explorations, stargazing experiences, traditional performances and concerts.

Most of the programs are free, but the firefly exploration costs 15,000 won per person, with 1,200 spaces opened per day; the stargazing experience costs 5,000 won per person, with 120 spots, held only on Aug. 27 and Sept. 4. Online reservation is required for the stargazing and firefly exploration via the official website of Muju Firefly Festival, www.firefly.or.kr.

Suwon Culture Night

Starting this Friday, Suwon Culture Night is set to run through Aug. 14 in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

The festival is held around the areas of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress and Hwaseong Temporary Palace.

Around 65 programs, under the theme of “night,” will offer a historical and cultural experience to visitors. In particular, media art installations titled “Eight Nights” will decorate the walls of the fortress and the palace.

Other programs include a docent-led tour around the city, a talk show, night markets, cooking programs and more. Admission fees vary by program.

For more information, visit the official website, www.swcf.or.kr.

Pocheon Herb Island’s Lavender Festival

The Lavender Festival continues through Aug. 31 at Herb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Purple-hued fields of lavender flowers will fascinate visitors with their picturesque landscape and aromatic fragrance. Special lavender-flavored ice cream and lattes, in particular, are a unique tasting experience only available during the festival.

The event also offers various programs using lavender such as natural soap and cosmetics-making, a lavender-scented pillow making, a herbal foot bath experience and more.

Tickets are 9,000 won, or discounted to 7,000 won for those under 16. The Herb Island closes every Wednesday.

Updated information can be found at www.herbisland.co.kr.

Vacation in Snoopy Garden

The Vacation in Snoopy Garden takes place until Aug. 31, on Jeju Island.

The Snoopy Garden is located in Songdang-ri, Gujwa-eup of Jeju City, on the western side of the island.

The Peanuts comics-themed garden features some of the major characters from the cartoons including Snoopy and Charlie Brown. Visitors can meet larger-than-life-size statues of the beloved characters across the museum and its vast garden. The site will offer some freshly-remodeled parts for the summer edition.

Admission costs 18,000 won for adults; 15,000 won for teenagers under 19; and 12,000 won for those under 13.

Updated information can be found at www.snoopygarden.com.

E-World Zombie Station Festival

The E-World Zombie Station Festival runs from July 2 to Aug. 28 around E-World, a theme park in Daegu.

The horror adventure features three different programs. Ghost House and Death Forest are open from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, both of them horror-themed adventures with zombie-filled haunted mansions.

A dynamic zombie performance, Zombie Station, will take place at E-World’s adventure plaza at scheduled times -- 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. -- on Saturdays.

Admission for all-day costs 29,900 won and for night-time, starting at 5 p.m., costs 19,900 won.

For more information, visit www.eworld.kr.

By Hwang Dong-hee (hwangdh@heraldcorp.com)