2027 Kaohsiung Wonderland (Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland)｜Minions
Themed Installations｜Night Lights｜Diverse Activities｜Pier Park
Kaohsiung’s waterfront winter event returns for 2027 with a Minions theme. The gathering, also known as Kaohsiung Winter Wonderland, runs from 1/23 (Thu) to 2/14 (Sun), a 23-day stretch at Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Port Piers 16–18. The characters from the Despicable Me franchise give this edition a clear visual anchor, and the program is built around four pillars: themed installations, night lights, diverse activities and the pier park venue itself.
Event details
- Time｜1/23 (Thu) – 2/14 (Sun)
- Location｜Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Port Piers 16–18
Themed Installations
The Minions theme is what sets this edition apart. Instead of a generic winter or holiday concept, the event builds its visual identity around the animated characters, which gives visitors a recognizable reference point and an obvious draw for families. Installations are placed along the piers, turning the walk through the venue into a continuous exhibition. The characters’ bright yellow palette reads clearly against the port’s concrete and water, and the pieces work from a distance as well as from close range.
Night Lights
After dark, the event shifts to a second visual layer. The night lights program illuminates the piers and the surrounding waterfront, and the Love River Bay setting does the rest: light carries across the water, while the open harbor sky keeps the space from feeling enclosed. The result is a site that presents differently by day than by night. An evening visit is a distinct experience from a daytime one, and visitors who want both can treat the event as two separate outings.
Diverse Activities
The activity program keeps the event from being purely visual. The schedule is described as diverse, with formats pitched at different ages rather than a single activity type. Children have the Minions as a familiar entry point, while adult visitors get reasons to linger beyond walking the installations. The open layout of the pier park supports a relaxed pace, so the event works as a full outing or as a shorter stop during an evening along the river.
Pier Park
The venue itself is part of the appeal. Piers 16–18 form an open-air park on the edge of Love River Bay, part of Kaohsiung’s redeveloped harbor district where former port infrastructure has been opened up for public use. The site offers long, unobstructed sightlines along the water, which helps when the park is busy. Kaohsiung’s mild winter weather also keeps the outdoor setting workable across the entire event period.
Visiting Information
The event runs from 1/23 (Thu) to 2/14 (Sun). The 2027 Lunar New Year falls on Feb 6, placing the holiday in the middle of the event window; the final day, Feb 14, is Valentine’s Day. All attractions are located at Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Port Piers 16–18. Visitors traveling from outside Kaohsiung can book accommodation near the venue:
Love River Bay is the waterfront section of Kaohsiung’s Love River where the river meets the harbor. It has been a public gathering place for residents and visitors for years. During the 2027 Wonderland Minions Edition, the promenade will be lined with Minions sculptures, interactive light installations, and colored reflections on the water. The bay itself is wide and gently curved, with pedestrian walkways, lawns, and lookout points that leave room for walking, picnicking, and sitting outside in the evening.
By day, the area works like most city waterfronts: small boats pass through, vendors sell snacks, and the open plaza gives children space to run. After sunset, the lighting program starts. Light shows are synchronized along the river, lantern displays float on the water, and Minions-themed projections appear on its surface. The paths from the main entrance to the riverside stage are easy to follow, and the viewing areas are laid out with family visitors in mind, including those with strollers.
People come for the lights, for the photo opportunities, or simply for the water. Love River Bay is one of the more visible parts of the Wonderland event, but it works because the basic setting—open water, clear pathways, and unobstructed sightlines—is already a good one.
