With the golden holiday at the start of May, spots across the greater Seoul area are turning into "family playgrounds." This year, with May 1 Labor Day designated a public holiday, people can take a day off on the 4th to enjoy up to a five-day break. With Children's Day on the 5th overlapping, large numbers of family visitors with kids are expected to flock to outings.
Across key areas of Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, hands-on events, festivals, and free-entry programs will be held one after another.
◇ Seoul's downtown turns into a "Pokemon festival venue"… Jamsil Baseball Stadium, last Children's Day
Pokemon Korea will hold "Pokemon Mega Festa 2026" across Seoul in May to mark the 30th anniversary of Pokemon.
First, a "Pokemon garden" with a secret forest concept will be created at Seoul Forest Park in Seongdong District. It is an experiential space of about 2,800㎡ (about 847 pyeong) where visitors can meet Pokemon in person. It will run free from noon to 7 p.m. and will be linked to the Seoul International Garden Expo, which runs through Oct. 27.
Around Seongsu-dong, a "Metamon playground" themed in purple Metamon will offer various sights and hands-on content. On the 5th, Children's Day, a "Pokemon Run" will also take place at the riverside stage of Ttukseom Hangang Park.
At Jamsil Baseball Stadium, home of the LG Twins and the Doosan Bears, a "last Children's Day" event will be held. Under Seoul City's project to create the Jamsil sports and MICE complex, Jamsil Baseball Stadium is scheduled to be demolished in December after this season ends.
In response, the clubs prepared various programs under the theme "Children's Day with Ellini and Doolini." At the event zone next to the central ticket office, hands-on events such as "Strike Challenge" and "I'm a Slugger, Too" will be held, and at the first-base infield plaza, a tattoo sticker and face-painting booth will operate along with national flag decorations. A joint autograph session by players from both clubs will be arranged, and on Children's Day a special program will allow kids to step directly onto the field.
◇ From a rail festival to a stadium turned playground… provincewide Children's Day festivals in Gyeonggi
Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, will host the "2026 Uiwang Children's Rail Festival" around Wangsong Lake Park and the Railroad Museum for Children's Day.
The event is composed of hands-on programs centered on children and families. New booths by the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) and Hyundai Rotem will let visitors experience rail technology, and Korea National University of Transportation and the Railroad Museum will also take part to expand the content. Participatory programs using Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and simulators are also set to operate.
Yongin will hold a Children's Day grand festival on the 2nd at City Hall Plaza. Performances will include the family musical "Cloud Bread: Mom Goes to Work," balloon mime, the children's musical "Tickle Bread Commotion," K-pop kids dance, a magic show, and busking.
Hands-on programs are plentiful. Climbing, horseback riding, mini rides, sports experiences, coding robot activities, and woodcraft play will be offered, and anyone can participate from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Suwon World Cup Stadium's main stadium will transform into a large children's playground for a day. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 5th, the stadium area will be open, offering programs in performance, play, hands-on activities, and safety education.
Popular character shows such as Pinkfong, Bebefinn, Robocar Poli, and Hello Carbot will take center stage. At the main stadium, the Bebefinn Happy Concert, Pinkfong Dance Party, Robocar Poli Sing-Along Show, and a character parade will unfold, while at the central plaza, Hello Carbot shows, a magic show, a bubble show, and a clown performance will follow.
◇ Incheon to open pools for free on Children's Day… a baseball stadium turned into a theme park
The Bupyeong-gu Facilities Management Corporation in Incheon will open the pool at the Northern Education and Culture Center for free on the 2nd for Children's Day. It will operate from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a first-come, first-served capacity of 200 people, 100 per session.
The Jung-gu Facilities Management Corporation in Incheon will also open the pools at the Jung-gu National Fitness Center and the Yeongjong National Fitness Center for children for free on the 5th. They will operate in two sessions from 9 a.m. to 3:50 p.m., with a first-come, first-served capacity of 80 people, 40 per session.
Some lanes at these pools will be removed to create water-play areas dedicated to children. The measure aims to provide a safer and freer environment.
The SSG Landers of professional baseball will turn Incheon SSG Landers Field into a theme park-style space for Children's Day. From the 5th to the 7th, the three-game series against the NC Dinos will be operated as "NBB Family Day."
Before the game, Frontier Square on the first-base side will feature children's activity facilities such as Jenga block play, a domino zone, and pool fishing, and a photo zone with a giant hamburger sculpture will also be set up.
Ganghwa County in Incheon will hold a Children's Day commemorative event on the 1st at the Dolmen Gymnasium in Ganghwa-eup under the theme "The moment you run to your heart's content, the world becomes a playground." Along with play programs, there will be a concert by a guest singer, magic and bubble shows, recreation, an OX quiz, and a family sports day.
With support from the Marine Corps 5th Regiment, Ganghwa Police Station, and Ganghwa Fire Station, programs will also let children experience military equipment, police cars, and fire trucks firsthand, offering a unique experience.