Five Fall Festivals of Golden Light & Romance
Fall is one of the most beautiful seasons in Korea. The mountains and fields take on golden hues, and the cooling breeze makes spending time outdoors pleasant. It’s no wonder that cities throughout the nation hold many festivals in fall. If you’re planning a trip to Korea this fall, be sure to add one of the following five festivals to your itinerary!
Andong International Mask Dance Festival
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Andong International Mask Dance Festival grounds -
Mask dance performance team
The Andong International Mask Dance Festival has been held annually in Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do since 1997. The festival showcases the cultural heritage of Andong and Korea’s traditional mask dance, a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage, through various performances and programs. Festival-goers can learn more about the history and meaning behind the masks, as well as watch exciting mask dances from countries all around the globe.
Aside from traditional dances, the festival is complete with busking, a flea market, play area, musicals, street parade and more fun activities for the whole family to enjoy.
| Main programs
■ Andong International Mask Dance Festival
- Venues: Talchum Park, Jungangseon 1942 (Previous Andong Station), downtown Andong
- Period: September 27 – October 6, 2024
- Program reservations: On-site
- Website: http://www.maskdance.com (English, Japanese, Chinese)
- Inquiries: +82-54-840-3424
Geumsan World Insam Festival
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Tourists posing with insam -
Enjoying a hongsam facial
The health benefits of insam, or ginseng, grown in Korea have been well-known throughout Asia since ancient times, being exported as far as the Roman Empire! Korea’s largest insam production region is in Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and the city hosts the Geumsan World Insam Festival every fall since 1981. During the festival, visitors can try their hand at harvesting insam before relaxing with a hongsam (dried insam) footbath or a facial. Other activities include insam sales and family contents using AI technology.
| Main programs
■ Geumsan World Insam Festival
- Venue: Areas of Geumsan World Insam Expo Plaza & Insam Yakcho Street
- Period: October 3-13, 2024
- Program reservations: Via phone call (available starting October) and on-site
- Website：www.insamfestival.co.kr(English, Japanese, Chinese)
- Inquiries: +82-41-750-4147
Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
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King Jeongjo’s Royal Tomb Parade Reenactment -
Media art show taking place in the sky
Suwon’s Hwaseong Fortress, built during the Joseon dynasty, was recognized by UNESCO for its outstanding architectural value and historical significance. The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival takes place every year here, where you can vividly experience the history and culture of the Joseon dynasty. The main event, King Jeongjo’s Royal Tomb Parade Reenactment, is a spectacular procession that recreates the visit of King Jeongjo to Suwon Hwaseong Fortress on his way to his father’s tomb. At night, a vibrant media art show is held against the backdrop of the Temporary Palace of Hwaseong Fortress. A range of experience programs are available for the whole family to enjoy, from cooking royal cuisine to trying on hanbok, or traditional Korean archery.
| Main programs
■ Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
- Venues: Areas of Hwaseong Fortress, Hwaseong Temporary Palace & Plaza
- Period: October 4-6, 2024
- Program reservations: Online, via phone call, and on-site
- Website: https://www.swcf.or.kr/hlfl (English)
- Inquiries: +82-31-290-3600
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
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Vibrant lanterns parading before Chokseongnu Pavilion -
Firework show over the Namgang River
Every October, the Namgang River in front of Jinjuseong Fortress gets a bit brighter during the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival. Because the focus of the festival is on lanterns, most events take place at night, with lanterns in all shapes, sizes, and themes decorating the festival grounds. In addition to first-hand experiences like making a lantern to float, riding a boat, or crossing the river on a temporary bridge, visitors can also enjoy watching fireworks, a drone light show, and a media art show. With so much to see and do, it’s no wonder the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival is one of Korea’s representative fall festivals.
| Main programs
■ Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival
- Venue: Area of Jinjuseong Fortress & Namgang River
- Period: October 5-20, 2024
- Program reservations: On-site
- Website: yudeung.com(English, Japanese, Chinese)
- Inquiries: +82-55-749-5322
- Tip! Hop on one of the city buses marked as going to the festival to reach the festival grounds easily.
Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival
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People posing while tying up on their wish paper -
Nakhwanori program
Located just an hour outside of Seoul, the land in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do is famous for its fertility, great at growing a plethora of produce, including rice, sweet potatoes, and peanuts. Records from the Joseon dynasty state that various local produce were shipped along the river, bound for the royal kitchen. The Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival celebrates this grand history, promoting the region’s outstanding produce and traditional culture. At the site of the old quay, a recreation of a marketplace is set up, while produce sales and folk activities are available in another area. The festival is a great way to experience Yeoju’s history, culture, nature, and food all at once.
| Main programs
- Venue: Area of Yeoju Silleuksa Temple
- Period: October 18-20, 2024
- Program reservations: On-site
- Website: Planned (English, Chinese)
- Inquiries: +82-31-881-9692
- Tip! Yeoju Station – Festival ground shuttle bus
- Yeoju Station departures: 10:00-17:00 every hour, on the hour
- Festival ground departures: 10:30-19:00 every half past the hour, last departure19:00
More info
- 1330 Korea Travel Helpline: +82-2-1330
- 1330 Text Chat: url.kr/PBeNi2
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* This page was last updated in July 2024, and therefore information may differ from what is presented here. We advise you to check details before visiting.
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