Festivals in Jeollanam-do

The south-west corner has the spring calendar: Gangjin's celadon festival by the Goryeo Celadon Museum from late February into early March, plum blossoms at Gwangyang and yellow sansuyu blossom in Gurye's villages below Jirisan in March, the Jindo sea road at the lowest spring tide, Hampyeong's butterfly festival from late April to Children's Day, then Boseong's tea fields and Damyang's bamboo forest in early May. From the last Saturday of July, Jangheung holds a nine-day water festival on the Tamjin River. In autumn, Hwasun plants flowers around its UNESCO-listed dolmens in the second half of October, Suncheon's Naganeupseong walled town holds its folk festival, reeds sway along Gangjin Bay and Hampyeong's Expo Park fills with chrysanthemums from late October, Haenam's Minam food festival fills Duryunsan park around the turn of November, and Goheung celebrates its yuzu harvest in the first half of November. At Christmas, Damyang holds a Santa parade and concerts.

On now, coming up and expected

Nokdong Coastal Ferry Terminal at Nokdong Port in Goheung, where the drone show is held Happening now
Apr – Oct2026
4 –31
Sat–Sat
LightsGoheungFreeEnds todayAbout 4 h 40 min from Seoul

Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show

The Goheung Nokdong Port Drone Show (고흥 녹동항 드론쇼) is a free drone light show over Nokdong Port in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, with Sorok Bridge behind it, held every Saturday at 21:00 from 4 April to 31 October 2026 (900 drones, busking from 20:00) and on the last Friday of each month in Goheung-eup. As of 19 October 2026 the season's last shows are Saturday 24 October, Friday 30 October (Goheung-eup) and Saturday 31 October; the 2027 season is expected from April.

Happening now
Sep – Oct2026
11 –31
Fri–Sat
NatureYeosuFreeEnds todayAbout 3 h from Seoul

Namdo K-Garden Festival

The Namdo K-Garden Festival is a provincial garden festival that Jeollanam-do started in 2025 and moves between counties; the 2026 edition is a free night garden show of about 40 gardens on Yeomun Culture Street and Yeoseo Mikwan Plaza in central Yeosu. It runs every day from 11 September to 31 October 2026, 15:00–21:00, with the gardens lit after dark.

Jinnamgwan, the long 1599 naval hall in Yeosu and a National Treasure, seen across its lawn Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
9 –8
Fri–Sun
LightsYeosuFreeUntil 8 NovAbout 3 h from Seoul

National Heritage Media Art at Jinnamgwan, Yeosu

National Heritage Media Art at Jinnamgwan is a free evening light show in Yeosu's old harbour district: projections and media façades on Jinnamgwan, a 1599 naval hall and National Treasure, on the Gosodae memorial site and on the turtle-ship replica in Yi Sun-sin Square tell the story of Admiral Yi Sun-sin. It runs 9 October–8 November 2026, 19:30–21:30 nightly except Tuesdays and special closure days around the 19 October Yeosu–Suncheon memorial, with an AI 'Yi Sun-sin', a stamp tour and weekend flea markets.

Chrysanthemum displays around a pond at Hampyeong Expo Park during the 2012 festival Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
23 –8
Fri–Sun
NatureHampyeongFreeUntil 8 NovAbout 3 h from Seoul

Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival

The Hampyeong Grand Chrysanthemum Festival (대한민국 국향대전) fills Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, with giant chrysanthemum sculptures, bonsai halls and autumn flower fields. The 2026 edition, themed 'Chrysanthemum Garden of Myths', runs 23 October–8 November, 10:00–18:00.

A boardwalk through the reed beds of Gangjin Bay Ecological Park, the festival's venue Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
24 –1
Sat–Sun
NatureGangjinFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 4 h 27 min from Seoul

Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival

The Gangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival (강진만 춤추는 갈대축제) is a free nine-day autumn festival in the reed beds of Gangjin Bay Ecological Park in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, where the Tamjin River estuary meets the sea. The 11th edition runs 24 October–1 November 2026, 10:00–19:00 daily, with guided eco walks, children's programs and weekend concerts (Song Ga-in on 25 October).

The Duryunsan cable car in Haenam, close to the provincial park lawn where the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
FoodHaenamEnds tomorrowAbout 4 h 46 min from Seoul

Haenam Minam Festival

The Haenam Minam Festival (해남미남축제; 'minam', 味南, means 'taste of the south') is a three-day food festival of Haenam's farm and sea produce, held in Duryunsan Provincial Park on the road to Daeheungsa Temple in Haenam, Jeollanam-do. Haenam County has announced the 2026 edition for Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November, with Haenam rice as its theme and, this year, no opening ceremony, township parade or VIP seating.

Mokpo Modern History Museum 1 in the old town, one of the festival's venues Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –1
Fri–Sun
TraditionMokpoFreeEnds tomorrowAbout 3 h 5 min from Seoul

Mokpo National Heritage Night

Mokpo National Heritage Night (목포 국가유산야행) is a free three-evening festival in the old town of Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, where the modern-history district around the Modern History Museums, Gyeongdong Cathedral and the Mokpo-jin fort site stays open after dark with lighting, media art, walking tours, a parade, concerts and a food-truck night market. The 2026 edition, themed on Mokpo's port opening in 1897, runs Friday 30 October to Sunday 1 November 2026, 18:00–22:00 each night, with no booking listed.

The granite ridges of Wolchulsan National Park in Yeongam, the mountain at whose foot the festival is held Happening now
Oct – Nov2026
30 –15
Fri–Sun
NatureYeongamFreeUntil 15 NovAbout 4 h 27 min from Seoul

Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival

The Wolchulsan Chrysanthemum Festival (월출산 국화축제) is a free autumn flower show at Wolchulsan Gichan Land, a park at the foot of Wolchulsan in Yeongam, Jeollanam-do, where more than 200,000 chrysanthemums of 23 varieties are set out as bonsai, flower sculptures, a flower tunnel and garden paths. The 2026 edition runs 30 October–15 November, 10:00–18:00.

Unjusa Temple in Hwasun, the festival's venue Upcoming
Nov2026
7 –8
Sat–Sun
TraditionHwasunFreeStarts in 7 daysAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Hwasun Unju Culture Festival

The Hwasun Unju Culture Festival (화순운주문화축제) is a free two-day festival at Unjusa, the "thousand Buddhas, thousand pagodas" temple in Doam-myeon, Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. KTO lists the 2026 edition for Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November, 10:00–17:00, with temple bell-ringing, pungmul and music, the unveiling of a Buddha statue, a local market and hands-on crafts.

Upcoming
Nov2026
7 –8
Sat–Sun
NatureGuryeStarts in 7 daysAbout 3 h 13 min from Seoul

Jirisan Piagol Autumn Foliage Festival

The Jirisan Piagol Autumn Foliage Festival (지리산 피아골 단풍축제) is a two-day weekend festival in Piagol, a valley on the Gurye side of Jirisan National Park in Jeollanam-do whose autumn leaves are among the 'ten views of Jirisan'. Gurye County's site gives Saturday–Sunday 7–8 November 2026 for the 50th edition, at Piagol Maple Park in Toji-myeon, opening with a commemorative tree planting at 10:00 and the traditional foliage rite at 11:00 on 7 November.

Visitors walking a path between yuzu trees heavy with ripe fruit at the 2025 Goheung Yuzu Festival Upcoming
Nov2026
12 –15
Thu–Sun
FoodGoheungFreeAbout 4 h 24 min from Seoul

Goheung Yuzu Festival

The Goheung Yuzu Festival (고흥유자축제) is a four-day harvest festival in the yuzu orchards of Handong-ri, Pungyang-myeon, in Goheung, Jeollanam-do, the county that grows most of Korea's yuzu. The 6th edition runs 12–15 November 2026, 10:00–22:00, with yuzu picking, a yuzu foot spa, lit-up orchards and nightly concerts.

The Metasequoia Road in Damyang in autumn, beside Metaland where the festival is held Expected
Expected2026
Dec
usual window
LightsDamyangAbout 2 h 35 min from Seoul

Damyang Santa Festival

The Damyang Santa Festival (담양산타축제) is a two-day Christmas festival in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, with a Santa parade, a lighting ceremony, fireworks and free outdoor concerts, held in 2025 at Metaland on the Metasequoia Road. The 7th edition ran 24–25 December 2025; the 2026 edition has not been announced but is expected on 24–25 December 2026.

A stage performance at the 2018 Gangjin Celadon Festival, watched by an audience seated under the canopy Expected
Expected2027
Feb / Mar
usual window
ArtsGangjinFreeAbout 4 h 42 min from Seoul

Gangjin Celadon Festival

The Gangjin Celadon Festival (강진청자축제) is a ten-day pottery festival around the Goryeo Celadon Museum in Daegu-myeon, Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, the heartland of Goryeo-era celadon kilns. Held since 1973 and once a summer event, it has run in late February since 2023: the 54th edition was 21 February–2 March 2026, 10:00–18:00, and the 55th is expected in late February 2027 (dates not yet announced).

Sansuyu (cornelian cherry) trees in yellow bloom around a reservoir and pavilion in Gurye's sansuyu village Expected
Expected2027
Mar
usual window
NatureGuryeFreeAbout 3 h 10 min from Seoul

Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival

The Gurye Sansuyu Flower Festival is a free nine-day spring festival in the sansuyu (cornelian cherry) villages of Sandong-myeon, Gurye, Jeollanam-do, where more than 110,000 trees turn the foot of Jirisan yellow. The 27th edition ran 14–22 March 2026 around the Jirisan Hot Spring Tourist Site; the 28th is expected in mid-March 2027, with dates set by the bloom and not yet announced.

Plum trees in blossom on the hillsides of Gwangyang Maehwa Village at sunset Expected
Expected2027
Mar
usual window
NatureGwangyang

Gwangyang Maehwa Festival

The Gwangyang Maehwa Festival is one of Korea's first spring blossom festivals each year: ten days in mid-March in Maehwa Village, a hillside plum orchard above the Seomjin River in Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do. The 25th edition ran 13–22 March 2026; the 26th is expected in early-to-mid March 2027.

A view of the 2013 Hampyeong Butterfly Festival Expected
Expected2027
Apr / May
usual window
FamilyHampyeongAbout 3 h from Seoul

Hampyeong Butterfly Festival

The Hampyeong Butterfly Festival (함평나비대축제) is a spring festival for families at Hampyeong Expo Park in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, where children release and feed live butterflies among flower beds, insect halls and play areas. The 28th edition ran 24 April–5 May 2026, 09:00–18:00, and drew about 236,000 visitors; the 2027 edition is expected in late April to early May but had not been announced as of 19 October 2026.

Rows of green tea bushes on a hillside in Boseong Expected
Expected2027
May
usual window
FoodBoseongAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Boseong Green Tea Festival

The Boseong Green Tea Festival (보성다향대축제) is a five-day tea festival at the Korean Tea Culture Park in Boseong, Jeollanam-do, Korea's best-known tea-growing county. The 49th edition ran 1–5 May 2026; the 50th is expected in early May 2027.

Looking up through a Damyang bamboo grove, photographed at the 2007 Damyang Bamboo Festival Expected
Expected2027
May
usual window
NatureDamyangAbout 2 h 5 min from Seoul

Damyang Bamboo Festival

The Damyang Bamboo Festival (담양대나무축제) is a five-day spring festival around Juknokwon bamboo garden in Damyang, Jeollanam-do, about 30 minutes by bus from Gwangju. The 25th edition ran 1–5 May 2026 with Juknokwon open until 21:00 for lit-up night walks; the 26th is expected in early May 2027.

Water jets and canoes on the Tamjin River during the 2018 Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival Expected
Expected2027
Jul / Aug
usual window
FamilyJangheungAbout 4 h 20 min from Seoul

Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival

The Jeongnamjin Jangheung Water Festival (정남진 장흥 물축제) is a nine-day summer festival on the Tamjin River in Jangheung-eup, Jeollanam-do, built around a free mass water fight every afternoon at 14:00. The 19th edition ran 25 July–2 August 2026; 2027 dates are not announced, but late July to early August is expected.

Dolmens scattered across the Hwasun Dolmen Site, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the festival's venue Expected
Expected2027
Oct
usual window
NatureHwasunAbout 3 h 30 min from Seoul

Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival

The Hwasun Dolmen Autumn Flower Festival (세계문화유산 화순 고인돌 가을꽃 축제) plants themed autumn flower gardens among the UNESCO World Heritage dolmens of Hwasun, Jeollanam-do. The 2026 edition runs 16–25 October, 09:00–18:00, with about 270,000 plants on about 4 ha and DM ("DolMen") concerts on 17, 18 and 25 October.

Thatched-roof houses inside the walls of Naganeupseong Folk Village in Suncheon, seen from above Expected
Expected2027
Oct
usual window
TraditionSuncheonAbout 3 h 5 min from Seoul

Suncheon Naganeupseong Folk Culture Festival

The Suncheon Naganeupseong Folk Culture Festival is a weekend of Joseon-era reenactments, folk games and traditional music inside Naganeupseong, a walled town in Suncheon, Jeollanam-do, where about 230 people still live in thatched houses. The 31st edition runs 24–25 October 2026, 11:00–17:00, opening with the Nagan magistrate's arrival procession.

Crowds walking out along the sea road as the tide parts toward Modo island Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Mar / Apr
usual window음력 기준
NatureJindoFreeAbout 5 h 20 min from Seoul

Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival

The Jindo Miracle Sea Road Festival (진도 신비의 바닷길 축제) runs on the few spring days when low tides expose a 2.8 km, 30–40 m wide seabed path between Hoedong village and Modo island on Jindo, Jeollanam-do. The 46th edition ran 17–20 April 2026; 2027 dates will follow the tide tables, probably in March or April.

The Seomjingang River winding between hills in Gokseong County, where the festival is held Dates TBA
Dates TBA2027
Oct
usual window
ArtsGokseongFreeAbout 2 h 40 min from Seoul

Seomjingang International Experimental Art Festival

The Seomjingang International Experimental Art Festival (SIEAF, 섬진강국제실험예술제) is a free festival of performance, installation and experimental art staged outdoors along the Seomjin River in Gokseong, Jeollanam-do. The 2026 edition officially runs 22 September–30 October, but the public programme sits on a few set days: the opening show at the Amnok Resort Area on Friday 23 October (17:00–21:00), a forest concert in Okgwa on 24 October (11:00–16:00) and a flower parade on 25 October (13:00–17:00).

Listed · not checkedAlso listed, not checked yet3 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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