Alien Grand Festival

The idea of aliens holding a sports day in the middle of Miryang

There has been a festival that has been running for several years with the concept that "aliens moved to Miryang." It is the Alien Grand Festival created by the Miryang Arirang Space Observatory, and since this observatory is the only place in Korea themed around alien life, even the festival concept stands out. Until now, it has been held around the observatory plaza and parking area, but this year, the 7th edition has moved downtown to the Miryang riverside area near Yeongnamnu, and is being run under the concept of an "alien sports day." The biggest change this time is that it has shifted from a mostly viewing-oriented event to a participatory one where families run and collide with their bodies together. Programs that get the whole family moving, such as Meteor Run, laser tag, and the costume contest, are at the center of the event.

The scale is nothing small either. Last year, the 6th edition ended successfully over two days with more than 12,000 visitors, and previous editions have also established themselves as one of Miryang's representative science and culture festivals, drawing audiences in the thousands to the ten-thousand range every year. It is especially popular with families bringing children, because the event is designed so that children and parents can enjoy it at the same level.

A day in an alien's life starts with immigration inspection for Earth

Thinking back to my experience at a previous edition, the fun of this festival starts the moment you enter. Visitors are treated as aliens arriving in Miryang, so they go through immigration inspection at the "Earth Immigration Office" and receive an ID card. After that, you can do simple alien makeup or get paid professional face painting and transform into your own alien. If you come with your own makeup done at home, you can participate in events such as the "no-lose lottery," so if you bring a spacesuit or some silver foil clothing with you and your child in advance, it will be much more fun.

There are two main ways to enjoy it. On stage, there are main programs such as performances by popular YouTubers, the costume contest, and laser tag, while in the booth area, science experiments and sports-day programs continue. There are hands-on activities scattered throughout, such as Mission Park Rocket, UFO smash, cornhole games, space shooting, and bingo games, where children can participate directly with their bodies, and if you go around one by one like stamping a passport, half a day passes in no time.

It is helpful to know the payment and fees in advance. The festival itself is free to enter without an admission fee, and only some paid experiences are purchased with the festival's own currency (credits or tokens). In the previous edition, there was a cashback event where buying 2,000 won worth of credits gave you 1,000 won in Miryang Love Gift Certificates back, so I recommend checking at the on-site ticket booth first to see whether such an event is available and then charging only as much as you need. The language guidance is mainly in Korean, so if you are a foreign visitor alone, it may be more comfortable to focus on the body-moving hands-on activities rather than trying to read every detailed explanation. Fortunately, the game and sports-day content has intuitive rules, so you can still enjoy it by following along as you go.

By train to Miryang Station, then on foot to Yeongnamnu

This year's venue, Yeongnamnu and the Miryang riverside area, is fairly accessible. From Seoul, KTX connects directly to Miryang Station, and because Miryang is a rail-strong region, most city buses gather at Miryang Station. From Miryang Station toward Yeongnamnu, bus number 6 and related routes operate, but Miryang city buses attach destinations after the route number, so first-time visitors may find it a little confusing. If the bus route feels uncertain, a taxi from Miryang Station to Yeongnamnu is quick, so if you have a lot of luggage or are with children, a taxi is easier.

In the past, when it was held at the observatory, people parked at Miryang City Hall and the main stadium and then rode a shuttle bus up, but this year, since the venue has moved to the downtown riverside, the parking and movement flow are different. If you drive, aim for the public parking lots near Yeongnamnu, but because it can get crowded on the day of the event, public transportation is the safer choice. Operating hours and shuttle/parking guidance change from edition to edition, so be sure to check the official page once more before visiting.

Practical tips to bring before you go

Since this is an outdoor riverside festival, weather and clothing are key. There are many running and game programs, so sneakers and comfortable clothes are the right choice. If the sun is strong during the day, bring a hat and water, and if you plan to stay for the evening performances, it is good to bring a thin outer layer. If you are coming with children, makeup may come off and your hands may get sticky, so wet wipes are also useful.

• Entry is free, but paid experiences can only be purchased with the festival's own currency → charge only what you need at the ticket booth
• Arriving with your own makeup gives you an advantage in participatory events → bring a silver outfit or one space-themed prop
• Popular performance and costume contest time slots get crowded → arrive a little early to secure your spot
• Guidance is mainly in Korean → plan your route around hands-on activities

In short, the Alien Grand Festival is Miryang's family-friendly festival that turns space and science into play. It is especially well suited for families who want to experience the atmosphere of a small Korean city festival with their children, and for travelers who want to leave behind photos with a unique theme. After spending a day transformed into an alien, the name of the city Miryang will stay in your memory for a long time.