By KHT Staff. Image via KH City Govt.
KAOHSIUNG — Nearly 300,000 visits were recorded over the first two days of Kaohsiung’s Halloween celebration at Weiwuying (衛武營), with more crowds expected for Sunday’s closing festivities, local media reported.
The event opened Friday and runs through Nov. 1, featuring the final appearance of the 22-meter inflatable pumpkin that has been part of the celebrations for three years. Attractions include a 360-degree light show incorporating Weiwuying’s architecture, nine themed photo areas, a family costume runway and a 250-stall market.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) joined Saturday’s crowds dressed as a garbage truck driver, arriving to the sound of a garbage collection broadcast. The city government said the costume paid tribute to sanitation workers.
This is Chen’s final Halloween as mayor before his successor takes office Dec. 25. He previously said the pumpkin would “graduate” alongside him, with next year’s administration bringing its own ideas to the celebration.
The Halloween crowds coincided with Japanese singer Fujii Kaze’s Saturday concert at the National Stadium. Kaohsiung Metro increased Red and Orange line services to four-minute intervals that afternoon to accommodate passengers traveling to both events.
Sunday’s closing program includes a market from 2 to 9 p.m., the pumpkin light show from 7 to 9 p.m., and the family costume runway from 7:05 to 9 p.m. The full schedule is available on the Kaohsiung tourism website.
