Efteling – the fairytale theme park in the south of Holland – has announced details of this year's Summer Festival, or Negen Pleinen Festijn, taking place every Friday and Saturday in July and August.
Allowing families in the park to make the most of long summer days and warm evenings, Efteling will stay open until 11pm on Summer Festival days, launching 6 July. All attractions are open as usual, with the only difference being that visitors will experience them under fairylights, while special events and live entertainment activities take place in nine of Efteling's nine squares.
The Summer Festival at Efteling features fairy-tale performances, pop-up stalls offering tasty summer delicacies and spectacular live musical entertainment throughout the day and into the evening. During the afternoons, a bandstand with an orchestra will perform at restaurant Het Witte Paard, while visitors can cool down with a fresh smoothie at pop-up street stalls or decorate their own ice cream. At 6pm, a colourful procession of entertainers takes place, winding through the park and into the nine squares.
During the summer evenings, Efteling's nine squares feature different live entertainment creating a festival-like atmosphere, from a sing-a-long with Efteling residents Jokie & Jet at the Carnaval Festival square to oriental magic shows in Fata Morgana square.
On the Vliegende Hollander square Pientere Pianist will play Efteling melodies and acapella band Zang & Gelukkig will sing well-known hits while guests can enjoy grilled burgers, fish or vegetable skewers from the BBQ.
On the Ton van de Ven square, the legend of Raveleijn comes to life with a sword fighting and Rider Thomas acting as a host.
There will be a proper fiesta vibe at Piraña square with South American performers and stalls selling nachos, and in Herauten square the youngest guests can meet their favourite Fairytale Forest residents. Elsewhere, there will also be opportunities to learn the bows and steps of the Symbolica Court Dance or eat bratwurst at the annual Jürgen Freilich Family Feast.
On other days in July and August, the park stays open until 8pm, allowing visitors plenty of time to discover the wonder of Efteling, relax in the park's beautiful grounds and take an extra ride on their favourite roller coasters, such as the recently renovated Python. With the longer summer days, visitors also have more opportunities to discover the secret rooms in the Palace of Fantasy at Efteling's newest attraction Symbolica celebrating its one-year anniversary in June, wander leisurely through the Fairytale Forest, enjoy more park shows such as Raveleijn or Sprookjesboom, or cool down with an extra ride on the white-water ride Piraña. Watershow Aquanura – the largest of its kind in Europe - is a great way to round off the day against a superb night sky.
After a long day in the park, the Efteling Hotel, Holiday Village Efteling Loonsche Land, with a hotel, holiday houses and themed rooms, and Holiday Village Efteling Bosrijk with luxury holiday homes and apartments, are just a short walk from the park entrance.
