Ulsan has 2 festivals in October: Ulsan Whale Festival (expected Sep/Oct 2027) and Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night (2027 dates to be announced · usually Oct). The Ulsan Whale Festival (울산고래축제) is a free four-day festival at the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Special Zone in Nam-gu, Ulsan, a former whaling port that is now Korea's only whale-culture district.
| Festival | Dates | Admission | Nearest station | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulsan Whale Festival울산고래축제 | Expected Sep/Oct 2027 | Free entry | Taehwagang Station | Expected |
| Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night울산 중구 국가유산야행 | 2027 dates to be announced · usually Oct | Free + paid activities | Ulsan Station (KTX) | Dates TBA |
Dates marked “expected” follow the organizer's usual pattern and are replaced when the official announcement comes. Each festival page lists the sources.
The Ulsan Whale Festival (울산고래축제) is a free four-day festival at the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Special Zone in Nam-gu, Ulsan, a former whaling port that is now Korea's only whale-culture district. The 30th edition ran from Thursday 15 to Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:00–21:00, with a whale parade, fireworks, concerts and children's programmes.
Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night (울산 중구 국가유산야행) is a free three-evening heritage festival in the old town of Jung-gu, Ulsan, held at Ulsan Dongheon, the Joseon-era magistrate's office, with its inner quarters (Naea), and at the Gyeongsang Jwado Byeongyeongseong army-command fortress. The 2026 edition runs Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October 2026, 17:00–22:00 each evening, with a magistrate's procession, performances, civil- and military-official experiences, night lighting and a stamp tour.
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 We have not checked them against the organizer, so dates and details can be wrong or out of date.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.
October is the busiest month on the calendar, and the festival to plan a trip around is the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: sixteen nights of floating lanterns on the Namgang River below Jinju's fortress from the first Saturday of the month. The first half of October also brings the Busan International Film Festival, the Busan International Rock Festival on the first weekend, the Silla Culture Festival in Gyeongju, Anseong's Baudeogi festival of namsadang folk performance, Sejong's Hangeul festival from Hangeul Day (9 October), Yeongju's Punggi ginseng festival and fortress festivals at Seosan's Haemieupseong and Gochang's Moyangseong. Mid-month adds Jarasum Jazz, Icheon's rice festival, pine mushrooms and salmon in Yangyang, and silver grass on Haneul Park in Seoul and on Hwangmaesan. In the second half, the chrysanthemum shows open at Hampyeong and Iksan, Gangneung holds its coffee festival, Wonju fills its old downtown with dumpling stalls, and Busan marks UN Day (24 October) with the UN Peace Festival beside the UN Memorial Cemetery.
Tip. October weekends sell out hotels in Jinju and Busan a month ahead; the weekdays in between are the best time to visit.
Ulsan has 2 festivals in October: Ulsan Whale Festival (expected Sep/Oct 2027) and Ulsan Jung-gu Heritage Night (2027 dates to be announced · usually Oct). The Ulsan Whale Festival (울산고래축제) is a free four-day festival at the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Special Zone in Nam-gu, Ulsan, a former whaling port that is now Korea's only whale-culture district.
Expected Sep/Oct 2027. Expected. Free entry. Nearest station: Taehwagang Station. The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.
2027 dates to be announced · usually Oct. Dates TBA. Free + paid activities. Nearest station: Ulsan Station (KTX). The organizer has not yet confirmed the dates; this page updates when they do.
KTX from Seoul Station to Ulsan Station, on the city's outskirts, in about 2 h 10 m on the fastest trains; KTX-Eum from Cheongnyangni to Taehwagang Station, downtown, in about 3 hours.
106 festivals across Korea fall in October, including Andong Maskdance Festival, Anseong Namsadang Baudeogi Festival, Baekje Cultural Festival. October weekends sell out hotels in Jinju and Busan a month ahead; the weekdays in between are the best time to visit.