'Yangcheon FUN Family Picnic Day' set for Oct. 17 at Sintri Park, open to families with young children
Eco-art, herb gardens, hands-on activities and more — advance reservations and walk-ins both available
Yangcheon-gu will host the 13th Infant Forest Family Festival at Sintri Park on Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., offering families with young children a chance to explore and enjoy a garden setting together.
On the day of the festival, Sintri Park will transform into a "nature playground" where children can experience the forest through all five senses — giving kids an up-close encounter with nature while offering families a relaxed space to unwind and connect.
Activity stations throughout the venue will feature nature-themed play, making, eco-art and garden experiences. Highlights include "Acorn Village Hat Shop," where participants make hats and view an exhibition; "Insects! A Soundscape in Thread," where children trace insect signs and create ecological artwork with yarn; and "Green Fragrance Garden," where families can pot their own herb plants.
An eco-friendly program called "Wood, Take Flight" invites families to transform discarded wood scraps into their own artwork, weaving in lessons about resource recycling through hands-on play.
Performances round out the day for the whole family — a bubble fantasy show at 12:30 p.m. and a balloon art show at 2:30 p.m. A "Family Memory Photo Studio" will also be available throughout the day for families to capture the occasion.
The festival is open to any family with young children. Residents wishing to reserve in advance may apply through Yangcheon-gu's integrated reservation portal on the district office website from Thursday through Wednesday. If applications exceed capacity, spots will be allocated by lottery. Some programs will also accept walk-in registrations on the day. For further details, contact the portal or the district's Parks and Green Space Division.
The district operates six infant forest experience centers totaling 60,000 square meters across local hills including Sinjeongsan, Jiyansan, Yongwangsan, Maebongsan and Galsan. Each center is staffed by certified infant forest instructors who lead programs in ecological observation, nature play and seasonal activities. The centers are open to all residents on weekends and public holidays, and have drawn about 34,000 visitors so far this year, establishing themselves as a popular natural retreat within the city.
"For children, the forest is the freest playground they can have — a space where they discover new things and learn," Yangcheon-gu District Mayor Lee Gi-jae said. "I hope this festival gives both children and parents a special day to slow down in nature and focus on each other."
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