The Hi Seoul Festival kicked off its eight-day run in downtown Seoul Sunday.

This year's event is centered on the city's palaces and will feature a range of performances, exhibits and hands-on activities. The venues are the five Joseon Dynasty palaces, City Hall Plaza and the Cheonggye Stream area.

The kick-off parade started in the late afternoon, marching along a 2.3-kilometer route that links historical Joseon assets from the royal shrine of Jongmyo to the grass park of City Hall.

When the parade arrived at the plaza, a laser show projected from the grass park formed a virtual digital "May Palace" to start the opening ceremony.

A reenactment of King Sejong's coronation at Gyeongbok Palace and a concert by the Seoul Philharmonic outside Gyeonghui Palace were performed Saturday evening to celebrate the start of the festival.

The festival is held every season.