Festivals in Gyeonggi-do

The province around Seoul holds three very different autumn festivals: the Suwon Hwaseong fortress festival with its royal procession, Jarasum Jazz on a river island at Gapyeong, and the Icheon rice festival. In early October Anseong's Baudeogi Festival fills Anseong Machum Land with namsadang folk troupes, drumming and tightrope walking, and the city troupe performs there every weekend from April to November. In October the Joseon royal tombs festival is spread across royal tombs in Gyeonggi-do and Seoul and Yeoncheon shows chrysanthemums at its prehistoric site; every two years in autumn the ceramics biennale fills museums in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju, and Yeoju's Ogok Naru harvest festival fills the Silleuksa riverside on an autumn weekend. Imjingak, near the DMZ, hosts the DMZ OPEN Festival's exhibitions and events through the autumn and Paju's Jangdan bean market in late November. From December to March the Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong is lit every night. All are day trips from Seoul by train or bus.

On now, coming up and expected

Hwaseong Haenggung Palace in Suwon by day; the night opening takes place here after dark

Happening now

May – Nov2026

1 –1

Fri–Sun

LightsSuwonEnds tomorrowAbout 1 h 15 min from Seoul

Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening

The Hwaseong Haenggung Night Opening (화성행궁 야간개장) keeps the royal palace at the heart of Suwon's UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress open after dark, lit with flower installations and hologram and laser media art under the 2026 theme 'Dalbit Hwadam'. The 2026 season runs 1 May–1 November on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, 18:00–21:30 (last entry 21:00), so the final nights are 23–25 October and 30 October–1 November.

Lotus flowers at Semiwon, the festival's venue

Happening now

Sep – Oct2026

1 –31

Tue–Sat

NatureYangpyeongEnds today

Semiwon Water Lily Festival

The Semiwon Water Lily Festival (세미원 수련문화제) is a two-month autumn festival at Semiwon, Gyeonggi-do's first designated local garden, on the Han River at Yangsu-ri in Yangpyeong, where Victoria, Australian and tropical water lilies take over from the summer lotuses. The 2026 edition runs 1 September to 31 October, 09:00–18:00 daily, with Saturday janggu-and-guitar performances, lotus-themed exhibitions and craft classes.

Paldalmun Gate of Suwon Hwaseong Fortress at night, next to the market

Happening now

Sep – Oct2026

5 –31

Sat–Sat

FoodSuwonFreeEnds todayAbout 1 h 10 min from Seoul

Bulchwimugwi Night Market

The Bulchwimugwi Night Market (왕의 야시장 불취무귀) is a free Saturday-evening night market in Suwon's Nammun Market district, beside Paldalmun, the south gate of Hwaseong Fortress, with food from market merchants and food trucks, a flea market, busking and a themed programme each night. First held in 2026, its second season runs 17:00–22:00 on four Saturdays, 10, 17, 24 and 31 October 2026; after 19 October the nights left are 24 October (Sundae Day) and 31 October (Joseon Ghost Day).

Basalt columns at Bidulginang Falls on the Hantan River in Pocheon, near the festival site

Happening now

Sep – Nov2026

12 –1

Sat–Sun

FamilyPocheonEnds tomorrow

Pocheon Hantangang Garden Festa

The Pocheon Hantangang Garden Festa is a seasonal garden festival on a lava plateau of about 260,000 m² above the Hantan River gorge in Gwanin-myeon, Pocheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do, beside Korea's longest Y-shaped suspension bridge (410 m). The 2026 autumn season runs 12 September–1 November, 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:00).

Ceramics on display at Icheon Cerapia, the biennale's main venue, in 2012

Happening now

Sep – Nov2026

18 –1

Fri–Sun

ArtsIcheonEnds tomorrowAbout 49 min from Seoul

Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale

The Gyeonggi Ceramics Biennale (경기도자비엔날레) is Korea's international ceramic art biennale, held in three museums in Icheon, Gwangju and Yeoju, ceramics towns south-east of Seoul. The 13th edition, 'Earth Makes', runs 18 September–1 November 2026, 10:00–18:00 every day (last entry 17:00), with the main exhibition at Icheon Cerapia.

Pinwheels on the hill at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju, one of the festival's main sites

Happening now

Oct – Nov2026

12 –29

Mon–Sun

ArtsPajuFreeUntil 29 NovAbout 2 h from Seoul

DMZ OPEN Festival

The DMZ OPEN Festival (DMZ OPEN 페스티벌) is Gyeonggi Province's multi-week season of art, music and talks about the Demilitarized Zone, centred on Imjingak Peace Nuri in Paju and the former US Army base Camp Greaves across the Imjin River. The 2026 edition runs 12 October–29 November, with the exhibition "Staging" (26 works by 14 artists), the International Music Festival in Goyang on 23–25 October and a forum on 28 October.

Jarasum island in the Bukhangang River in Gapyeong, the festival grounds, seen from above

Upcoming

Oct2027

9 –11

Sat–Mon

MusicGapyeongAbout 1 h from Seoul

Jarasum Jazz Festival

The Jarasum Jazz Festival is Korea's largest jazz festival, held every October on Jarasum, a river island beside Gapyeong Station about 70 km north-east of Seoul. The 23rd edition ran 9–11 October 2026, and the 24th is set for Saturday 9 to Monday 11 October 2027.

Pinwheels on the hill at Imjingak Peace Nuri Park in Paju, beside the festival grounds

Expected

Expected2026

Nov

usual window

FoodPajuFreeAbout 2 h from Seoul

Paju Jangdan Bean Festival

The Paju Jangdan Bean Festival (파주장단콩축제) is a three-day farmers' festival at the Imjingak Tourist Area in Paju, Gyeonggi-do, beside the Imjin River near the inter-Korean border, where growers sell the new crop of Jangdan soybeans alongside fresh tofu, meju-making and bean threshing. The 29th edition ran 21–23 November 2025, 09:00–17:00.

The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong seen from above on a spring day; the lighting festival is held here in winter

Expected

Expected2026

Dec / Jan / Feb / Mar

usual window

LightsGapyeongAbout 1 h 5 min from Seoul

Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm

The Lighting Festival at the Garden of Morning Calm (아침고요수목원 오색별빛정원전) fills a 100,000-pyeong private arboretum in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, about 65 km north-east of Seoul, with LED light displays every winter, lit from sunset (about 17:00) to 21:00 and to 23:00 on Saturdays. The 19th edition ran 5 December 2025–15 March 2026; 2026–27 dates are not announced, but recent editions opened on the first Friday of December and closed on a Sunday in mid-March.

A border collie leaping between agility hurdles at the 2024 Icheon Pet Festival, watched by a crowd

Expected

Expected2027

Sep / Oct

usual window

FamilyIcheonFree

Icheon Pet Festival

The Icheon Pet Festival is a free two-day festival for dogs and their owners at Icheon Ceramic Art Village (Yes Park), a potters' village in Sindun-myeon, Icheon, Gyeonggi-do. The 2026 edition runs 24–25 October, 10:00–17:00, opening at 14:00 on Saturday with a talk concert by veterinarian Kim Myung-cheol, and adds a dog sports day, walking, grooming and massage classes, a dog playground, food trucks and a flea market.

Namhansanseong fortress at night, the festival's venue

Expected

Expected2027

Sep / Oct

usual window

FamilyGwangju (Gyeonggi-do)Free

Namhansanseong Autumn Festa

The Namhansanseong Autumn Festa (숲속의 산성도시 - 남한산성 가을 페스타, "Fortress City in the Forest") is Gyeonggi Province's free autumn programme of hands-on heritage activities, guided tours and traditional performances at Namhansanseong, the UNESCO-listed mountain fortress in Gwangju, just southeast of Seoul. The 2026 run is 5 September–25 October, with walk-in programmes on weekends and public holidays, so the last chance is Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October; the next run is expected in September–October 2027.

Soldiers in red uniforms marching in the King Jeongjo royal procession reenactment held with the 2023 Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival

Expected

Expected2027

Sep / Oct

usual window

TraditionSuwonAbout 1 h 15 min from Seoul

Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival

The Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival (수원화성문화제) is Suwon's autumn festival inside the UNESCO-listed Hwaseong Fortress, south of Seoul on subway Line 1. The 63rd edition ran 4–11 October 2026, opening with the King Jeongjo royal procession reenactment on 4 October.

A namsadang troupe performing acrobatics, music and dance in 2008 (not taken at this festival)

Expected

Expected2027

Oct

usual window

TraditionAnseongFreeAbout 1 h 3 min from Seoul

Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival

The Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival (안성맞춤 남사당 바우덕이 축제) is a free four-day festival of namsadang folk performance (pungmul drumming, tightrope walking, bowl spinning, masks and puppets) with visiting folk troupes from abroad, held every early October since 2001 in Anseong Machum Land and along Anseong Stream in Anseong, Gyeonggi-do. The 2026 edition ran 2–5 October, 10:00–21:00; the 2027 dates are not announced, but early October is expected.

An Icheon rice set meal with many side dishes, the local speciality the festival celebrates

Expected

Expected2027

Oct

usual window

FoodIcheonAbout 50 min from Seoul

Icheon Rice Cultural Festival

The Icheon Rice Cultural Festival is a five-day harvest festival in Icheon, Gyeonggi-do, south-east of Seoul, built around the town's rice, once a royal tribute. The 25th edition ran 14–18 October 2026 at a new riverside site, Bokhacheon Waterside Park, with shuttles from Icheon Station.

The red spirit gate and T-shaped shrine at the Yungneung and Geolleung royal tombs in Hwaseong in autumn

Expected

Expected2027

Oct

usual window

TraditionHwaseong

World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival

The World Heritage Joseon Royal Tombs Festival (세계유산 조선왕릉축전) is an annual autumn programme of performances, guided tours, exhibitions and hands-on activities at the UNESCO-listed Joseon royal tombs in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and Yeongwol. The 7th edition runs 17–25 October 2026 at 12 royal tomb sites, after an opening ceremony on Friday 16 October at Yungneung and Geolleung in Hwaseong.

A hall at Silleuksa Temple in Yeoju, next to the festival grounds

Expected

Expected2027

Oct / Nov

usual window

FoodYeojuFreeAbout 1 h 27 min from Seoul

Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival

The Yeoju Ogok Naru Festival (여주오곡나루축제) is a free three-day harvest festival at the Silleuksa temple resort beside the Namhan River in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, built around Yeoju rice and sweet potatoes and the Joseon-era tribute boats that left from the Jopo ferry. The 2026 edition runs 23–25 October, 10:00–21:00, with a tribute parade, cauldron-cooked bibimbap, free roasted sweet potatoes and a different riverside night show each evening, including nakhwa fire-falling on 24 October.

A large carved face at the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Yeoncheon, the festival's venue

Expected

Expected2027

Oct

usual window

NatureYeoncheon

Yeoncheon Chrysanthemum Festival

The Yeoncheon Chrysanthemum Festival is a ten-day autumn flower show on the grounds of the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site, a Paleolithic site in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do, reached by Seoul Subway Line 1 to Jeongok Station. The 8th edition runs 16–25 October 2026, 09:00–18:00 daily, with chrysanthemum displays on a Goguryeo theme.

The Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Yeoncheon, the festival's venue, in February 2025

Expected

Expected2027

Oct / Nov

usual window

FoodYeoncheonFree

Yeoncheon Job's Tears Festival

The Yeoncheon Job's Tears Festival (연천율무축제) is a free three-day farm market built around yulmu, or Job's tears, a grain of which Yeoncheon grows about 60% of Korea's supply. It is held at the Jeongok-ri Prehistoric Site in Jeongok-eup, Yeoncheon, in northern Gyeonggi-do.

All year in Gyeonggi-do

A namsadang troupe performing in 2008 (not necessarily the Anseong troupe that gives this show)

Seasonal

Apr–Nov

Sat–Sun

regular schedule

TraditionAnseongAbout 1 h 3 min from Seoul

Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Weekend Show

The Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Weekend Show (안성 남사당바우덕이 풍물단 상설공연) is the city troupe's 90-minute programme of namsadang nori — drumming, tightrope walking about 3 m up, bowl spinning, tumbling, mask dance and puppetry — staged in the round Namsadang hall at Anseong Machum Land, Gyeonggi-do. It runs every Saturday and Sunday at 14:00 from April to November (4 April–29 November in 2026).

Listed · not checkedAlso listed, not checked yet18 more festivals listed by the Korea Tourism Organization

These come straight from the Korea Tourism Organization’s public festival database. We have not checked them against the organizer, so dates and details can be wrong or out of date. Confirm on the official page before you book.

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