At a glance
| Dates | Expected May 2027Early May 2027, most likely the five days around 1–5 May (the 2025 and 2026 pattern); 2026 dates were public by 17 March 2026, so expect an announcement in January–March 2027. |
|---|---|
| Next edition | 2027: Early May 2027, most likely the five days around 1–5 May (the 2025 and 2026 pattern); 2026 dates were public by 17 March 2026, so expect an announcement in January–March 2027. |
| Weather | May average 25/13 °C (77/56 °F), 91 mm of rainComfortable: light layers. Monthly averages, not a forecast: Korea Meteorological Administration climate normals, 1991–2020, Gwangju station, about 20 km away. |
| Admission | Festival grounds are free. Juknokwon and Metaland charge a small entry fee (about ₩2,000–3,000 for adults), which at recent festivals was refunded as vouchers usable at festival booths and town shops.Festival admission: Free · Juknokwon entry (adult): ₩3,000 · Metaland (Metasequoia road) entry: ₩2,000 (2026 prices) |
| Venue | Juknokwon bamboo garden and Damyang Sports Complex전라남도 담양군 담양읍 죽녹원로 130 |
| Nearest station | Gwangju Songjeong Station (KTX), then bus (광주송정역), KTX Honam LineNot walkable; about 30 minutes onward by bus to Damyang |
| From Seoul | about 2 h 5 min · KTX + BusFull route · Festivals by travel time from Seoul |
| Organizer | Damyang County (Damyang Bamboo Festival Committee)담양군 |
| Usual timing | Five days in early May: 2–6 May 2025 and 1–5 May 2026 (2024 was moved later, to 11–15 May). Dates are announced between January and March. Browse May festivals. |
| Last checked | 16 October 2026Checked against 24 sources · See sources |
What it is like
Damyang is a small county north of Gwangju known for bamboo: bamboo groves, bamboo crafts, bamboo-shoot dishes and the bamboo-tube rice (daetongbap) served in every restaurant near the garden. The festival is built around Juknokwon, a 2.4 km network of paths through dense bamboo on a hillside above the Gwanbangcheon stream, and spills into the sports complex, the Dambit Music Hall grounds and the Gwanbangjerim riverside forest across the water. Since 2024 the organizers have pushed it toward an evening event: Juknokwon stays open until 21:00 with lighting inside the grove, bamboo wish lanterns, lit railings on Hyanggyo bridge and lights on the stream, and in 2026 an outdoor cinema screened films against the bamboo at night. Daytime is family-oriented: bamboo rafts and water activities on the stream, traditional bamboo games, a drone-building workshop and a national speed-drone race, a kids' musical on Children's Day, and a cooking contest using bamboo shoots and aged soy sauce. Evening concerts by well-known Korean singers (YB, Nam Jin, Ali in 2026) draw the biggest crowds, and the opening night ends with a drone light show. Food booths use returnable containers and post prices. Caveats: the grove itself is pleasant but not large, and on holiday afternoons the main path is slow-moving; the stage area is a car park outside the garden, not inside the bamboo; and the Metasequoia-lined road, the county's other postcard, is a separate site about 10 minutes away by car or five stops on bus 311-2.
Highlights
- Juknokwon bamboo grove open until 21:00 with lighting on the paths and bamboo wish lanterns (festival nights only)
- Opening night (1 May 2026, 17:00) parade, YB concert and a drone light show over the stage area
- Bamboo raft rides and water activities on the Gwanbangcheon stream in front of the garden
- Bamboo Grove Cinema: outdoor film screening inside Juknokwon on the second night (new in 2026)
- Children's Day (5 May): kids' musical, build-your-own-drone workshop and a national speed-drone race
- Juknokwon (₩3,000) and Metaland (₩2,000) tickets refunded as vouchers to spend at booths and shops in town
Who it suits. Best for families with children and for visitors who want a lit-up bamboo walk after dark; less suited to travelers wanting quiet forest time, because the grove's main path is crowded on the holiday days, or to anyone expecting a large-scale performance festival.
Getting there
From Seoul
KTX from Seoul to Gwangju Songjeong (about 2 h), then intercity bus or city bus 311 to Damyang (about 30–40 minutes); driving is 3.5–4 h. Get off at Damyang terminal or the Juknokwon stop, then walk to the garden entrance at Jungnogwon-ro 119.
From Busan
There is no direct bus from Busan, so change at Gwangju. Intercity bus from Busan Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal (Sasang, Line 2 Sasang Station) to Gwangju U-Square: about 23 a day as of October 2026, 2 h 57 m, ₩28,300 deluxe or ₩36,800 premium (16 a day also leave Busan Central Bus Terminal, Nopo, taking 3 h 03 m). Then an intercity bus from U-Square to Damyang (37 minutes, ₩3,200) or city bus 311, getting off at Damyang terminal or the Juknokwon stop as above.
Last leg from Gwangju Songjeong Station (KTX), then bus
KTX Honam Line. Not walkable; about 30 minutes onward by bus to Damyang
Festival shuttle
The 2026 official transport page shows only a QR code; no shuttle details were published on the pages opened.
Getting home
Direct express buses run from Damyang Bus Terminal to Seoul Central City about 7 times a day (about 3 h 45 m); in recent timetables the last one left before Juknokwon's 21:00 night closing, so check it at the terminal. To stay later, go back via Gwangju: intercity buses and city bus 311 link Damyang and Gwangju (about 30–40 minutes); check the last bus at Damyang terminal before you go. From Gwangju, express buses leave U-Square for Seoul Central City into the evening and KTX trains run from Gwangju Songjeong to Seoul (about 2 h); check the last train in the Korail+ app (코레일+) or at the station before you go.
Parking
Juknokwon car park (Jungnogwon-ro 119) is free but typically full after 11:00 on weekends; expect traffic controls near the stage on opening night.
How to switch Naver Map and Kakao Map to English
Google Maps shows train, subway and bus routes in Korea but not walking or driving directions yet, so for the walk from the station Naver Map or Kakao Map is more reliable.
Before you go
1330 · Travel hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization’s helpline answers in English, Japanese and Chinese around the clock, and in several other languages from 08:00 to 19:00. Dial 1330 from a Korean phone, or +82-2-1330 from a phone registered abroad.
112 / 119 · Emergencies
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance. Both are free from any phone. Police on 112 can add an English or Chinese interpreter to the call.
T-money card
Buy one at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It pays for subways and buses in most cities, and for most taxis.
Maps
Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for walking and bus directions; Google Maps does not yet give walking directions in Korea. Both apps can be switched to English. Naver Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → Language (Japanese and Chinese also available). Kakao Map: Menu (≡) → Settings → App settings → Language. If the option is missing, change your phone’s language and reopen the app. Small shop names and some reviews stay in Korean.
Trains and buses
Book trains on Korail’s English site and express buses on Kobus. Holiday weekends sell out first.
Checked 18 October 2026.
Tickets, prices and practical details
| Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Festival admission | Free | Free per KTO |
| Juknokwon entry (adult) | ₩3,000 | Refunded as a local voucher during the festival; youth ₩1,500, elementary ₩1,000 |
| Metaland (Metasequoia road) entry | ₩2,000 | Refunded as a local voucher during the festival |
- Booking
- No general booking; vendor and booth applications run through the county. Concerts are free-standing events without ticketing on the pages opened.
- Crowds
- Heavy on the 1 May and 5 May holidays and on concert evenings; the Juknokwon car park fills by late morning on weekends.
- Best time to go
- Arrive before 11:00 to park and walk the grove in daylight, then stay for the lit grove after dusk (open to 21:00 during the festival).
- What to bring
- Shoes for sloped, sometimes damp bamboo paths; a light layer for the evening by the stream.
Editions
| Year | Dates | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Early May 2027, most likely the five days around 1–5 May (the 2025 and 2026 pattern); 2026 dates were public by 17 March 2026, so expect an announcement in January–March 2027. | expected | No 2027 announcement found as of 16 October 2026. |
| 2026 | 1–5 May 2026 | ended | Opening ceremony stage at the Mokpo National University Damyang campus car park (the former Jeonnam Provincial College site); traditional games at Gwanbangjerim; drone programs at Dambit Music Hall; festival information booth at the sports complex, Jungnogwon-ro 134. |
| 2025 | 2–6 May 2025 | ended | 24th edition; theme 'A feast of bamboo, with Daenamoo'. |
| 2024 | 11–15 May 2024 | ended | Held 11–15 May, deliberately apart from the county's 3 May Residents' Day so farming residents could attend; about 650,000 visitors. |
Before or after the festival
Places you can fit in before or after the festival without missing the shuttle or the last train or bus back.
An avenue of about 1,300 metasequoia trees planted in 1972 along some 5 km of the old main road, of which about 2.1 km inside Metaland is a car-free walking path. Walk it in the morning or early afternoon: Metaland is open 09:00–18:00 every day (one blog gives 19:00 in May–August; not confirmed), so it does not fit after the evening lights in the bamboo grove. Tip: adult entry is ₩2,000, and at recent festivals the ticket was refunded as local vouchers you can spend at the festival booths.
Getting there: From Juknokwon, bus 311-2 (five stops) or about 10 minutes by car or taxi
A forest on the flood levee along the stream below Juknokwon and a natural monument: magistrate Seong I-seong built the embankment and planted trees in 1648, and hackberries and zelkovas over 300 years old now shade about 1.2 km of path. The festival's games and raft rides spill onto it, and it is free and open at all times, so walk it between the grove and the evening programme. Tip: follow it to its far end for Damyang's noodle street.
Getting there: Across the stream from Juknokwon, on foot; free
- Damyang noodle street (담양 국수거리)Before or after
A riverside row of noodle restaurants in Damyang-eup, open for over 50 years, where you sit at outdoor tables by the water for anchovy-broth noodles, spicy bibim-guksu or, in season, chilled young-radish noodles, with boiled eggs on the side, cheap and generous. Make it lunch or an early dinner before the lit grove and the concerts; shops keep their own hours, so for a late meal check the last bus to Gwangju or Seoul at Damyang terminal first. Tip: some shops also serve green-onion pancakes.
Getting there: At the end of Gwanbangjerim, on foot along the stream from Juknokwon (walking time not checked)
Questions travelers ask
When is the Damyang Bamboo Festival 2027?
Not announced yet. It ran 2–6 May 2025 and 1–5 May 2026, so early May 2027 is likely; the 2026 dates were public by mid-March.
Is the Damyang Bamboo Festival free?
Yes. Juknokwon and Metaland charge a small entry fee (about ₩2,000–3,000 for adults), but at recent festivals those tickets were refunded as local vouchers you can spend at booths and shops.
How do I get to Damyang from Gwangju?
Intercity bus from U-Square (about 30–40 minutes) or city bus 311. Check the last bus back to Gwangju at Damyang terminal before the festival day.
Is Juknokwon open at night during the festival?
Yes, until 21:00 on festival days, with lighting on the paths, bamboo wish lanterns and, in 2026, an outdoor cinema inside the grove. Normal closing is 19:00 (last entry 18:00) in March–October.
Where is the main stage?
In 2026 the opening ceremony and concerts used the car-park stage at Mokpo National University's Damyang campus (the 2025 site was the same car park under its former name, Jeonnam Provincial College), not inside the bamboo garden.
Can I see the Metasequoia road on the same trip?
Yes. Metaland is about 10 minutes by car or five stops on bus 311-2 from Juknokwon; its small entry fee has also been refunded as vouchers during recent festivals.
What is the weather like at Damyang Bamboo Festival in May?
May in Damyang: average high 25 °C (77 °F), low 13 °C (56 °F), 91 mm of rain (Gwangju station, about 20 km away, KMA 1991–2020 normals). Comfortable: light layers.
Sources and verification
Facts checked
16 October 2026, against the sources listed below.
This page is desk research from the sources below, not a firsthand report of the 2027 edition. Confidence in the current facts: high.
- KTO VisitKorea (EN) — Damyang Bamboo Festivalkto — 2026 dates 1–5 May, venues, hours 10:00–21:00, free, organizer, phone, program list
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror, ES) — Festival del Bambú de Damyangkto — Coordinates 35.3256/126.9881, Juknokwon ₩3,000 and Metaland ₩2,000 with voucher, hours 09:00–21:00, nearby sites
- Asia Economy 2026-04-21 — 야간 콘텐츠 대폭 강화…담양대나무축제news — 25th edition, dates, venues, night program, Bamboo Grove Cinema, Juknokwon to 21:00, voucher refunds, Children's Day drone events
- Seoul Shinmun 2026-04-28 — 빛으로 피어난 천년의 대숲news — Drone show on opening night, cinema on 2 May, lighting details, reusable containers, posted prices, voucher amounts
- Herald Economy 2026-03-17 — 빛나라 대나무! 담양 대나무축제 5월 1일 개막news — Day-by-day 2026 program, opening 1 May 17:00 at Mokpo National University Damyang campus car park, Gwanbangjerim and Dambit Music Hall activities
- KPI News 2025-03-17 — 5월 2일 대나무축제 팡파르news — 2025 program, Juknokwon to 21:00, ₩3,000 voucher refund
- twig24 2025-04-20 — 초록에 물들다 담양 대나무 축제news — 2025 dates 2–6 May, opening 17:00 at Jeonnam Provincial College car park, 150 booths, closing concert
- Segye Ilbo 2024-05-16 — 담양대나무축제 결산news — 2024 dates 11–15 May, 650,000 visitors, reason for the later date
- Official site — 담양 대나무 축제official — Contact 061-380-3152, information booth at the sports complex (Jungnogwon-ro 134), transport page is QR-only
- travelmapjourney — 담양 당일치기 코스 (2026)blog — KTX and bus timings, U-Square and bus 311 first/last departures, Juknokwon parking, fees and hours, Metaland distance
- Damyang → Seoul Central City express bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-09)other — 7 buses a day; last 17:00 and 19:10 (scheduled arrival 22:57)
- Gwangju U-Square → Seoul Central City express bus timetable (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-07)other — 92 buses a day; late departures until 00:00
- Gwangju Songjeong → Suseo train timetable, 16–19 Oct 2026 (third-party mirror of the MOLIT/data.go.kr national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — Last departure 23:03 KTX-Sancheon 636 (arr 00:54)
- Damyang → Gwangju U-Square intercity bus timetable (feed mirror)other — Shows no service data ('운행정보가 없습니다', last modified 2021-03-23), so the Damyang→Gwangju return couldn't be verified
- Busan Seobu (Sasang) → Gwangju U-Square intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — 23 buses a day, 06:00 to 22:00; 2 h 57 m on every run; weekday adult fares ₩28,300 deluxe (우등) and ₩36,800 premium, ₩33,900 for the 22:00 regular (일반) bus
- Busan Central (Nopo) → Gwangju U-Square intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-17)other — 16 buses a day, 06:20 to 21:00; 3 h 03 m; weekday adult fares ₩31,200 deluxe (우등), ₩40,500 premium
- Busan Seobu (Sasang) terminal departures (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-16)other — To Jindo Public Terminal 2 a day: 08:10 deluxe ₩51,400 and 14:00 premium ₩60,400, 5 h 13 m. To Suncheon Bus Terminal 14 a day, 07:05–19:10, 2 h 38 m on most runs (14:25 run 2 h 09 m, 17:00 run 2 h 36 m), ₩17,000 regular, ₩22,000 deluxe, ₩28,600 premium. To Mokpo 6 a day (most 4 h 13 m). No Damyang, Hwasun or Nagan departures listed
- Damyang Public Bus Terminal intercity departures (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-09)other — 11 intercity destinations (incl. Daegu Seobu, Namwon, Geochang, Incheon Airport T1/T2); no Busan terminal among them
- Gwangju U-Square → Damyang Public Bus Terminal intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-17)other — 37 minutes; ₩3,200 regular; the feed lists 15 departures, 07:30–21:40 (fewer than the 41 a day in the record's travel-blog source)
- Gwangju U-Square → Busan Seobu (Sasang) intercity bus timetable (third-party mirror of the national timetable feed, page last modified 2026-10-17)other — 23 buses a day, 04:30 to 21:00; 3 h 02 m; last departure 21:00 arriving 24:02; ₩28,300 deluxe, ₩36,800 premium, ₩21,700 regular (11:40)
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 담양 메타세쿼이아길kto — About 1,300 metasequoia trees planted in 1972 along about 5 km; 09:00–18:00, open year-round; adult ₩2,000; homepage damyang.go.kr (as cited on our Damyang Santa Festival page, checked there 29 Oct 2026)
- telltrip — 담양 메타세쿼이아길 겨울 눈꽃 터널 산책blog — Hours 09:00–18:00 September–April, 19:00 May–August; about 2.1 km walking section in Metaland; buses 10-1, 13-1 and 311-2 (as cited on our Damyang Santa Festival page)
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 관방제림kto — Natural monument; embankment and trees begun by magistrate Seong I-seong in 1648; about 1.2 km; trees over 300 years old (hackberry, zelkova); open at all times, free (as cited on our Damyang Santa Festival page)
- ktriptips (KTO data mirror) — 담양 음식테마거리 (noodle street)kto — Noodle-restaurant street by the river in Damyang-eup (객사3길 area), over 50 years old; outdoor tables with river views; anchovy noodles, bibim-guksu, seasonal yeolmu-guksu, boiled eggs; some shops serve pajeon; cheap, generous portions; no dedicated homepage
What we could not confirm
- Festival shuttle buses and official parking plan for 2026 were only behind a QR code on the official site.
- First edition year not found on the pages opened (2026 was the 25th).
- Exact Korean name of the festival committee and whether concerts had any ticketing were not confirmed.
- Japanese and Chinese names not verified.
- Last bus from Damyang to Gwangju and to Seoul, and last KTX from Gwangju Songjeong, on the festival dates under the timetable in force that day.
- The national timetable lists 15 U-Square→Damyang intercity buses a day, fewer than the 41 given by the travel-blog source used above; recheck.
- Whether Juknokwon and Metaland tickets will again be refunded as vouchers in 2027, and Metaland's May closing time (18:00 in KTO data, 19:00 May–August in one blog).
- Walking time from Juknokwon along Gwanbangjerim to the noodle street.
Changes: 2026-10-16 — Full fact-first rewrite: hours, prices, stations, 2024–2027 editions, FAQs and sources. · 2026-10-16 — Rechecked against timetables, fare tables and organizer notices: conflicting figures and claims; last trains and buses back to Seoul. · 2026-10-18 — Added a photograph from the Korea Tourism Organization (Korea Tourism Content Lab), KOGL Type 1. · 2026-10-18 — Added a route from Busan (Getting there), with times and fares from the national bus and rail timetables. · 2026-10-20 — KTX Seoul–Gwangju Songjeong time corrected to about 2 hours. · 2026-10-21 — Transport: removed last-train and last-bus clock times taken from the October 2026 timetable (next edition months away); the page now gives journey times and says to check the last train in the Korail app or at the station or terminal. · 2026-10-31 — Nearby rewritten as 'Before or after the festival' (shuttle and last-train fit); transport: last-bus text no longer rests on the October 2026 timetable (frequency, journey times, Korail+ wording kept), bus clock times removed from notes; prices: Juknokwon and Metaland fees now 'a few thousand won' / about ₩2,000–3,000.
