Gangwon in August Festivals, dates and what's on

Gangwon has 2 festivals in August: Naora Show (25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026) and Hwacheon Tomato Festival (expected Jul/Aug 2027). The Naora Show (나오라쇼, "Night of Light Show") is a free evening show at the Ganhyeon Tourist Area below Sogeumsan Grand Valley in Wonju, Gangwon: a media façade projected onto a river cliff about 250 m wide and 70 m high, with a music fountain that shoots up to 60 m.

Typical August weather in Hwacheon: average high 30 °C (86 °F), low 21 °C (70 °F), 320 mm of rain (Chuncheon station, about 25 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals).

At a glance

FestivalDatesAdmissionNearest stationStatus
Naora Show나오라쇼25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026Free entrySeowonju StationHappening now
Hwacheon Tomato Festival화천토마토축제Expected Jul/Aug 2027Free + paid activitiesSachang-ri Bus Terminal (Sanae-myeon has no railway station)Expected

Dates marked “expected” follow the organizer's usual pattern and are replaced when the official announcement comes. Each festival page lists the sources.

Weather in August

Festival townAverage highAverage lowRainMeasured at
Hwacheon30 °C 86 °F21 °C 70 °F320 mmChuncheonabout 25 km away

What to wear. Hot, humid and the wettest time of year: light clothes, a rain jacket or umbrella, and water.

Monthly averages, not a forecast. Source: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, via the KMA-sourced climate tables for Chuncheon. Where a festival town has no station with published normals, the nearest one is used and its distance shown.

The festivals

All festivals in Gangwon
Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
25 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsWonjuFreeEnds todayAbout 50 min from Seoul

Naora Show

The Naora Show (나오라쇼, "Night of Light Show") is a free evening show at the Ganhyeon Tourist Area below Sogeumsan Grand Valley in Wonju, Gangwon: a media façade projected onto a river cliff about 250 m wide and 70 m high, with a music fountain that shoots up to 60 m. The 2026 season runs 25 April–31 October on Saturdays and public holidays only (none in July and August), 19:50–21:00, so the last 2026 shows are on Saturday 24 and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from late April.

Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
FoodHwacheonAbout 2 h 6 min from Seoul

Hwacheon Tomato Festival

The Hwacheon Tomato Festival (화천토마토축제) is a summer farm festival in Sanae-myeon, Hwacheon County, Gangwon, best known for 'Find the Golden Ring', in which visitors wade into a pool of culled tomatoes to hunt for gold rings. The 22nd edition ran 31 July–9 August 2026 at Sanae Sports Park, about 2 hours by direct bus from Dong Seoul; the 2027 edition is expected in late July or early August but has not been announced.

August across Korea

All 18 festivals in August

The mud festival, Pentaport, Hwacheon's tomato festival and Jangheung's water festival all run into early August, and the Busan Sea Festival puts fireworks, a beach pub and free concerts on Dadaepo Beach between late July and mid-August. Around 14 August, the anniversary of Admiral Yi Sun-sin's 1592 victory off Hansan Island, Tongyeong stages the Hansan Daecheop Festival with a naval procession, a battle re-enactment on the water and fireworks over the sea. Jecheon's music-and-film festival plans to open in August in 2027, and in the last week of the month Yeongdong holds its grape festival, with grape stomping and picking. Muju's firefly festival, with guided night walks to see fireflies in a protected habitat, follows in early September. Typhoon season peaks in late August and September; organizers post cancellations on the morning of the event.

Tip. Firefly viewing tours at Muju are ticketed and limited; book the moment sales open.

Questions travelers ask

Is there a festival in Gangwon in August?

Gangwon has 2 festivals in August: Naora Show (25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026) and Hwacheon Tomato Festival (expected Jul/Aug 2027). The Naora Show (나오라쇼, "Night of Light Show") is a free evening show at the Ganhyeon Tourist Area below Sogeumsan Grand Valley in Wonju, Gangwon: a media façade projected onto a river cliff about 250 m wide and 70 m high, with a music fountain that shoots up to 60 m.

When is Naora Show 2026?

25 Apr – 31 Oct 2026. Happening now. Free entry. Nearest station: Seowonju Station. Dates are taken from the organizer's own notice.

When is Hwacheon Tomato Festival 2027?

Expected Jul/Aug 2027. Expected. Free + paid activities. Nearest station: Sachang-ri Bus Terminal (Sanae-myeon has no railway station). The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.

What is the weather like in Hwacheon in August?

Average high 30 °C (86 °F), low 21 °C (70 °F), 320 mm of rain (Chuncheon station, about 25 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Hot, humid and the wettest time of year: light clothes, a rain jacket or umbrella, and water.

How do I get to Gangwon?

KTX from Seoul Station to Gangneung in about 2 hours; Hwacheon by intercity bus from Dong Seoul Terminal.

What else is on in Korea in August?

18 festivals across Korea fall in August, including Boryeong Mud Festival, Busan Sea Festival, Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show. Firefly viewing tours at Muju are ticketed and limited; book the moment sales open.