Ghibli Park announces one year anniversary spring festival events
A year has passed since Ghibli Park, the theme park dedicated to the beloved works of Studio Ghibli, opened its final area: the Valley of Witches.
This whimsical area is home to iconic structures like Howl’s Moving Castle and the Hatter Hat Store and celebrates the studio’s magical portrayals of witches.
To commemorate this anniversary, Ghibli Park is hosting a “Haru Matsuri”, or Spring Festival, throughout March and April, which will see a series of special events held throughout the park.
These upcoming celebrations offer a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Ghibli Park for free and immerse yourself in the enchanting worlds of the beloved animated films.
The series of events kick off on 16th March, which is one year to the date that the Valley of Witches opened to the public.
The festivities will begin with a performance by Nagoya City’s Toho High School Marching Band, who will be playing familiar tunes from Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Earwig and the Witch.
From 21st to 23rd March, visitors can experience “Ghibli Park’s Acoustic World”.
This immersive experience was previously a popular limited-time offering and allows guests to use earphones to listen to synchronized music and sound effects that correspond to specific scenes within Ghibli Park and the surrounding Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.
From March 29th to 30th, Mononoke Village, an area inspired by Princess Mononoke, will host a “Ceramics Experience” in collaboration with the Aichi Ceramics Museum.
This workshop offers children and adults the chance to create their own pottery, paying homage to the local “Seto ware” ceramics.
Younger visitors can participate in a “Mini Broom-making Experience” at the Okino Residence in the Valley of Witches on 5th and 6th April.
This event, designed for elementary school children and their parents, provides a fun opportunity to craft miniature brooms reminiscent of Kiki’s from Kiki’s Delivery Service.
The “Wind Music Festival” on April 13th will fill the park with melodies as various singers and instrumentalists will perform at different locations, including the West Exit Information Centre, the Main Entrance Gate, the entrance to the Hill of Youth and the Valley of Witches.
A stamp rally will also run from March 16th to April 25th, encompassing both Ghibli Park and the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.
While regular Ghibli Park admission requires pre-purchased tickets, many of these anniversary events are free of charge.
Participation in some events may require a special application, with details and a complete event schedule to be released on the official Ghibli Park website in late February or early March.
Ghibili Park have also confirmed which two animated short films will be shown in the Grand Warehouse during March and April, having previously shown the My Neighbor Totoro sequel “Mei and the Baby Catbus” in December and January.
In March they will be screening “Looking for a Shelter”, while April will see “The Seed and the Egg Princess” being shown. Both films are directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Source, Images: PR Times
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