Lotte World Adventure, 'City Vacance & Samba'
Performance and Experience Programs Until September 1
New Parade Celebrating 35th Anniversary
Enjoy Summer with Photo Zones and Pop Concerts
The Samba Festival symbolizes Brazil, the 'Land of Passion.' The carnival held every February in Rio de Janeiro, a port city in Brazil, is counted among the world's top three festivals alongside Japan's Sapporo Snow Festival and Germany's Munich Oktoberfest. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, over 2 million visitors from around the world flocked daily to enjoy the festival during the Rio Carnival period. The parade, where millions of people boost the excitement to the rhythm of lively music and the movements of professionally adorned dancers, is truly a spectacular sight.
There is an opportunity to enjoy the charm of the Samba Festival, held on the opposite side of the globe, right here in Korea. Lotte World Adventure in Songpa-gu, Seoul, presents 'City Vacance & Samba' every summer season. Without the need for a long-haul flight, visitors can catch a glimpse of an exotic atmosphere through the fusion of city pop and samba. This year, with the heatwave and tropical nights starting earlier than usual and an unprecedented heatwave expected, it is possible to enjoy a healthy summer with samba at an indoor theme park in the city center, which is easily accessible regardless of weather conditions such as scorching sun or monsoon rains. It is perfect for spending a memorable day with family, lovers, or friends while experiencing customer participation programs such as indoor rides, photo zones, and unique content.
Brazil moves to Jamsil... I become a samba dancer to the exciting rhythm
Lotte World Adventure kicked off its summer flagship festival, 'City Vacance & Samba,' on the 7th. This year, it will operate for about 90 days until September 1. The main performance, 'Samba Carnival Parade,' takes place daily at 2 p.m. on the parade course on the first floor of Adventure. Local dancers participate directly to deliver the passion of the Brazilian Samba Queen. Under the concept of 'a parade performed by the Sun Goddess and passionate samba dancers from the Amazon, where a legendary mystical bird exists,' the parade features three units?Sun Goddess, Indio, and Amazon?six parade vehicles, and samba costumes and decorations made from tens of thousands of natural feathers, providing enjoyment throughout the performance.
This year, a customer participation program was newly added to the parade course. It is the 'Exciting Samba Zone,' where visitors can dance along with the dancers while watching the parade. Separate spaces were set up on the first floor of Adventure at the Loti Train Plaza and the Meeting Plaza floor. Visitors can learn samba choreography through a pre-show led by keepers before the parade starts. From 1:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the performance begins, participation is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the parade site. After following the keepers' demonstrations to learn the choreography in advance, participants can dance samba with the dancers to the lively music once the parade starts. According to Lotte World, the Exciting Samba Zone has been popular, recording full capacity since its debut on the 7th.
The 'Samba Step School' is also a must-see. It is a program where Brazilian samba dancers and MCs teach visitors samba dance directly. It starts daily at 3:30 p.m. on the first floor Meeting Plaza of Adventure, except Tuesdays, until August 25. Additionally, until the 14th of next month, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and from the 15th of next month to August 25, children can participate as 'Kids Dancers' in the Samba Step School. Kids dancers, recruited through prior paid registration, practice choreography separately before the performance and can also create dazzling samba costumes. Afterwards, they wear the costumes they made and dance with Brazilian dancers. After the event, a special photo time with samba dancers is provided. This program creates memorable experiences for families with children.
Not only samba but also various South American dances can be enjoyed on the stage performance 'Samba Together.' Every day at 6:30 p.m. on the first floor Garden Stage of Adventure, visitors can enjoy a rich variety of shows including capoeira, a Brazilian traditional martial art, lambada full of South American passion, and salsa performances featuring dynamic steps. The stage costumes are also directly imported from Brazil, vividly recreating the splendor of local performances.
A 35-year treasure trove of memories... Land of adventure and mystery
Opened in July 1989 as the world's largest indoor theme park at the time, Lotte World Adventure will celebrate its 35th anniversary on the 12th of next month. Including the outdoor theme park Magic Island, which opened the following year, it operates over 50 attractions indoors and outdoors. Parades and cultural arts programs presented with changing seasonal themes are also attractions. Under the concept of 'a space full of joy 365 days a year, a land of adventure and mystery,' it offers adults nostalgic memories of childhood and delights that evoke fairy tale worlds for teenagers. The annual number of visitors is around 6 million, and word of mouth has spread among foreign tourists visiting Korea, with foreigners accounting for about 15% of total visitors.
To commemorate the 35th anniversary, Lotte World Adventure has prepared various side events. First, throughout July, the Adventure Garden Stage will host the 35th-anniversary Best Pops Concert 'Rock the Beat' every day at 5 p.m., featuring big bands and characters performing together. This live concert offers a variety of genres including famous movie OSTs, musicals, ensembles, pop, and vocals, highlighted by dazzling band performances and shows. At 8 p.m., visitors can watch the new nighttime parade 'World of Light' celebrating the 35th anniversary. The concept is that lights gathered from around the world create the most magnificent party with Lotte World Adventure's mascots, Loti and Lori. The parade consists of six units decorated with nature, animals, and cultural elements symbolizing each region. Units expressing 'Passion of Light,' 'Beauty of Light,' 'Miracle of Light,' and 'Joy of Light' will shine with colorful lighting and costume effects, gifting visitors beautiful summer night memories.
Visitors can also capture 'life shots' at the summer festival photo zones. The entire park, where the splendor of samba and the freshness of city pop blend, is a photo hotspot decorated with neon signs, feathers, palm trees, and more. The 35th-anniversary commemorative sculpture 'The Light of the Heart' in the first-floor photo zone of Adventure is also a great spot for taking certification photos. At this photo zone, photo performances featuring Lotte World characters and actors as a stylish background for commemorative photos are held daily at 12:30 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. Additionally, at the Garden Stage Plaza on the first floor of Adventure, the 'Smile with Samba' photo time, where visitors can wear samba costumes and take photos with Brazilian dancers, is held daily at 12:30 p.m.
Moreover, the Meeting Plaza photo zone features a media tree that plays videos matching the theme 'City Vacance invited by Loti and Lori.' Various videos can be used as backgrounds, including colorful samba feathers, Loti surfing, and city neon signs. Magic Castle, the representative photo zone of Magic Island, and Overbridge, decorated with city pop for summer, are also places to take vacation commemorative photos.
Lotte World Adventure offers up to 40% discount on comprehensive admission tickets for university (graduate) students in groups of 2 to 4 until the 30th, marking the end of the semester season. Also, to commemorate the Month of Patriots and Veterans, until the end of this month, military personnel, police officers, and firefighters can purchase comprehensive admission tickets at a 45% discounted price for themselves and one accompanying person. A Lotte World Adventure official said, "We have prepared diverse content so that visitors can enjoy an exotic and refreshing vacation in the city center," adding, "We hope it helps make summer vacation and holidays more fulfilling."
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