Seoul Silver Grass Festival marks 25th year at former landfill park

The 25th Seoul Silver Grass Festival is set to commence this Saturday at Haneul Park in western Seoul, running through October 23 under the theme "Silver Grass, Comfort From Nature." Haneul Park, located in Mapo District, was once part of a former island used as Seoul's landfill until 1993. Following ecological restoration, the site was transformed into World Cup Park in 2002, the same year the festival began.

The park's hilltop is adorned with silver grass, which turns silvery white during autumn. The festival will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. across a vast area of 192,000 square meters. Its main attractions include four gardens designed to stimulate the senses. Visitors can express their wishes and messages at one garden, read books at a camping-style rest area in another, and unwind amidst red summer cypress and silver grass in a third.

A fourth garden will feature a photo zone, where a silver grass horse sculpture comes alive at night with lighting shows and music synchronized to the rhythm. An opening ceremony is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Saturday. The festival will also host busking performances featuring a variety of ballads throughout the day.