All-year-round List of Korean Festivals (Part 2)
Traveling to Korea in any season, you can participate in many festivals organized in different regions and at different times of the year. From culture, entertainment to nature-themed festivals – these festivals are meant to make you fall in love with this beautiful country!
Festivals in Korea are not only fun and entertaining but also a fascinating way to immerse yourself in the local culture. Here is a list of top festivals organized during the second half of the year that you should check out for next time you come to Korea! For the list of festivals from January to June, check out Part 1!
1. JULY: Buyeo Seodong Lotus Festival
In the middle of June, when the lotus blossoms and fragrant, it is also the time of the famous Buyeo Seodong Lotus festival. This festival not only honors the beauty of the lotus but also emphasizes the importance of preserving wildflowers.
Although the festival’s program includes quite a lot of lotus-related events, making paper lotus flower and making lotus fragrant soap are considered the most popular activities for festival participants. Moreover, tourists can also visit some famous tourist attractions located near the festival location, including many Baekje (an ancient kingdom in Korea’s history) cultural relics such as Baekje Wangneungwon, Nakhwaam as well as the Baekje Historical Museum.
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(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
2. AUGUST: Muju Firefly Festival
Muju is a district located in Jeollabuk Province, South Korea, which is famous for its bustling tourist areas. One of Muju’s attractions is the annual Firefly Festival organized annually in summer. Coming to this festival, you will find yourself lost in the paradise created by hundreds of thousands of sparkling fireflies and cheered up by many exciting activities during the festival.
Participating in the Muju firefly festival, visitors have the opportunity to receive books that provide knowledge about the life cycle and characteristics of fireflies. The festival side-activities such as salmon catching competition, firework and lantern display… are also well organized, creating a pleasant and happy atmosphere for all visitors.
(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
3. SEPTEMBER: Andong Mask Dance Festival
The mask dance festival in Andong Province is an annual event that is expected by all Koreans as well as international visitors from all over the world. Only from the idea of organizing a two-day festival to celebrate Korean traditional culture in 1997, the festival has increasingly attracted visitors and become a massive event, lasting up to 10 days from the end of September to the beginning of October.
Coming to the Festival, visitors can enjoy different forms of Korean folk mask dances which are an important part of the Korean cultural heritage. The most special performance is the mask dance-drama named “Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori”, which has a history of more than 800 years and has been honored as an Important Intangible Cultural Property of Korea. In addition, there are also dance performances from other countries in the world and a variety of activities such as exhibitions on Korean folk traditions, exhibitions of masks in the world and other experience activities.
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(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
4. OCTOBER: Seoul International Fireworks Festival
Seoul International Fireworks Festival is the largest fireworks festival in Korea, organized annually in October by Hanwha Group since 2000. with the brilliant fireworks display of participating countries. In addition to the brilliant fireworks displays by international teams from Korea and other countries, there are many exciting activities taking place during the festival such as games, camping, and a huge KPOP concert with the participation of famous KPOP artists. This is truly a great festival for everyone, especially young people.
You can camp at Yeouido park during the day to wait until the fireworks performance in the evening. Around the festival location, there are also many street vendors selling affordable and delicious street snacks!
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(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
5. NOVEMBER: Seoul Lantern Festival
Seoul lantern festival began in 2009. The festival is held to preserve culture and traditions while promoting the Korean tourism industry. Each year, the festival will showcase the beauty of colorful lanterns with a different cultural theme.
The festival is held at Cheonggyecheon Stream – an indispensable stream in the life of Seoul’s citizens, starting from Cheonggye Plaza to the Supyogyo Bridge. During the festival period, this artificial stream will become more sparkling and gorgeous than ever!
Joining the festival, you can experience making traditional lanterns or writing your wishes on a tree of hope. You can also discover the taste of unique Korean dishes or immerse yourself in the arts space on the sidelines of the festival.
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(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
6. DECEMBER: The Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival
The Garden of Morning Calm in Gyeonggi-do, which occupies an area of nearly 30,000 km2 with more than 5,000 species of plants and flowers, is truly a MUST-GO place when you come to Korea. Surrounded by mountains and forest, the Garden will absolutely heal your soul with its nature harmony and beauty. Although this place is an ideal destination during spring and autumn, visitors can still enjoy its gorgeousness in a different way during the cold winter season.
The Garden of Morning Calm Lighting Festival is one of the biggest light festivals in Korea, with an area of nearly 330,000 m2 all covered with colorful lights. The festival is organized with different themes each year, and the sparkling lights really add a festive and dreamy glow to the natural beauty of the garden.
(Photo credit: english.visitkorea.or.kr)
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Have you made up your mind about your traveling plans in Korea yet?
Is there any Korean festival that you want to participate in?