Event set for Saturday morning at Sangam Neighborhood Park's infant forest experience center; walk-in registration available. Seven hands-on nature programs and side events await families.
Mapo-gu will hold its 13th Infant Forest Family Festival on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the infant forest experience center inside Sangam Neighborhood Park.
The festival is a woodland celebration designed to let children discover and learn from nature alongside their families in the heart of the city. Sustained community interest has carried the event to its 13th edition this year.
About 300 participants are expected, including children from local daycare centers and kindergartens as well as family groups from the neighborhood.
Seven hands-on forest programs will be set up across the festival grounds to spark children's curiosity about the natural world.
Highlights include a water-planter family garden where children plant hydroponic plants in glass containers, an insect-specimen observation booth called "Our Neighborhood Insect Stories," a wood-grain nameplate craft activity, and an autumn forest treasure box showcasing colorful berries and seeds — all designed to nurture an appreciation for nature.
Family-friendly physical activities round out the program: a spider-web forest obstacle course and a rubber-shoe toss aimed at a straw mat in the woods.
Side events add to the festive atmosphere, with a bubble show, a magic show, a children's mini train ride, a Polaroid photo zone and caricature portraits on offer throughout the day.
The festival is primarily open to daycare centers and kindergartens that regularly use the infant forest, though walk-in registration will also be available so more families can take part.
Mapo-gu will station an ambulance from the district public health center and safety personnel on site, and will conduct a safety briefing before the event to ensure a secure experience for all children and families.
"The forest is a precious place where children can feel nature, run freely and learn," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said. "I hope this festival gives children the chance to enjoy the forest with their families, appreciate the value of nature and create happy memories together."
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