Festivals

 

Festivals are the single most fun thing about my life in Korea.  I love festivals.   They come in many different, very different types here in Korea, and there is certainly one that's your speed.  While some have rides for the kiddies, games of chance and too much cotton candy and not much of anything traditional going on, others are very focused and centered and you can learn lots about Korea by attending.  

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has announced a list of 29 local and regional festivals which the ministry is going to sponsor, helping out with funding and of course advertising.  These are them.  I only have the 2003 info for the  festivals from now until June, after that, my advice, if something seems good to you, call the ladies at Daegu Tourist Information Service and ask them to find out the rest of the details.  I've also added on some other festivals, to make this list more inclusive and will continue to update it.

March

3/15-3/23	Korean Bullfighting Festival in Chungdo	(In Korean bullfighting bulls fight each other.  The first to turn taile and run is the loser). National bullfighting tournament; Korea-Japan goodwill bullfighting match; Korean bull rodeo contest (ridden by American service-men who rodeo'd back home); bull fighting photography contest and exhibition; heifer beauty contest and traditional cattle market.  http://www.festival.or.kr/chongdo
3/29-4/3	Korean Traditional Cake and Drink Festival (Gyeongju)	Demonstration and tasting of traditional alcoholic beverages and pressed rice cakes; exhibition of beverages and rice cakes, their manufacturing paraphenalia and old documents related to the process (in Korean of course); traditional Japanese and Chinese food exhibition; traditional musical performances; rice cake slicing contest; a chance to pound your own rice cake. 054-779-6396 or imboh@yahoo.co.kr

 

At the 2001 Drink Festival

April

4/4-4/7	Wangin Culture Festival in Yeongam	A drama performance based on the life-story of Dr. Wangin, an eminent scholar of the Baekje Kingdom; Chinese-text translation contest; reenactment of Dr. Wangin's travels to Japan; Wangin look-alike contest; exhibition of Japan's "Asuka Culture"; folk games of the Baekje Kingdom period.  061-470-2241 or djp398@hanmail.net
4/16-4/19	Jindo Yeongdeung Festival	Jindo is an island that has around the equinox with particularly violent tidal shift becomes part of the mainland.  Rafting; the parting of the sea; a sman rite to exorcise evil spirits; traditional funeral rites; a circle dance chorus; native Jindo farmers' songs; parade of ships and a dog show of the 'Jindo' breed.  061-540-3133 or psunh22@hanmail.net
April	Kijang-Taebyon Anchovy Festival	Anchovy drying competition; anchovy sampling party and other fishing tour programs.
4/26-4/28	Onyang Cultural Festival	The Onyang Cultural Festival is held around the time of the birthday of Admiral Yi Sun0shin to inspire patriotism in the memory of the national hero who fought against the Japanese infvasion in 1592.  Events include a turtle ship battle game, kite flying contest, marathon, reenactment of the Joseon Dynasty military service exam etc.  041-540-2544 or ksjs6598@hanmail.net
4/25-5/4	Jeonju International Film Festival	The festival  will present 170 domestic and foreign films.  For more info call 02-2285-0562, or go to the website.  There are 5,000 per night dormitory rooms with shuttle buses to the movie theatres.  The rooms can be reserved by calling the above number.

 

May

late May	Hadong Mountain Dew Tea Culture Festival	Picking tea leaves; tea-making demonstration; tea ceremonies for children; green tea exhibition and sampling; "best tea of the year" contest and an international seminar on wild tea. 055-880-2341 or okj2@hadong.go.kr
5/1-5/9	Tripitaka Koreana Festival at Hapcheon Hae'insa	The Tripitaka Koreana is East Asia's most complete collection of Buddhist Sutras, preserved at Hae'insa Temple.  Events of the festival include drance drama of the Tripitaka Koreana, Hapcheon Ogwangdae Nori (mask dance), lighting ceremony of Buddhist lanterns and a candlelight ceremony.  055-930-3544 or webmaster@hc.ne.kr
5/2-5/5	National Bullfighting Festival	Jeongup is where Gabo Donghak, a peasant uprising took place in 1894 against the oppression of corrupt officials.  The events include the bullfighting (see March for more description of this), a livestock fair, sampling of Jeongup beef, exhibition of livestock tools and even pig fighting. 063-530-7292 or ky3777@yahoo.co.kr
5/3-5/11	Jirisan Herb Festival	Sancheong is the hometown of oriental herbal medicine.  Events include the samplingof herbal medicinal teas and dishes, free medical diagnosis, chopping of medicinal plants, sampling  and tours of the herbal marketplace.  055-970-3544 or yslee@jiri.ne.kr
5/4-5/9	Namwon Choonhyang Festival	Choonhyang is a famous character from Korean history, though she was born poor and worked as the Korean equivalent of a geisha, she married her true love, who was of the upper crust.  True love conquered over a long period of separation and many hardships.   The story can be seen as a movie (wildly acclaimed at international film festivals) or as a Korean Pansori opera (6 hours in length).   Memorial service for Choonhyang; costume parade featuring Choonhyang's life-story; performance of the traditional drama "Choonhyangjun"; love letter writing; archery contest; wooden dish carving contest; Choonhyang beauty contest.  063-620-6544 or yms0242@hanmail.net
5/7-5/11	Daegu Yangnyoengsi Festival (Traditional Medicine)	Planting a medicinal herb garden;wild plant exposition; competition on collecting; naming and or speed chopping of medicinal plants; sampling medicinal teas, liquours and pressed rice cakes; free oriental medical diagnosis, treatment and lectures; and the opportunity to walk through the beautiful Yangnyongsi Medicinal Herb Garden and the small Museum of Traditional Medicine. 053-429-2563 or herb@daegumail.net
5/27-6/3	Chooncheon International Mime Festival	A really noisy (haha ha) street parade; performances by domestic and international mimes and theater groups; street performances; goblin plays; come one and all mime workshops.  033-250-3541 or ccw2183@hanmail.net
5/23-5/25	Daegu Joongangro Festival	Daegu's downtown- you've seen it crowded, now see it impossible to move crowded.  Free booze and other samples, live music and contests.  Lots of fun if you can stand the press of flesh.
5/1-5/6	Hansan Moshi Cultural Festival in Seocheon	Moshi is a flax-like perennial which Koreans have learned to make beautiful ramie fabric out of.  The light and airy fabric is perfect for hot Korean summers.  This festival will have a fashion show, a world textile exhibition, weaving demonstrations, dyeing demonstrations and an opportunity to try on the clothes.   041-950-4016 or o-5000@hanmail.net
5/3-5/11	Hampyeong Butterfly Festival	The butterfly festival presents the magnificence of thousands of butterflies soaring in an ocean of flowers acrpss a 33 million sq. meter site in Hampyeong.  Events include butterfly exhibits, studying the flight method of butterflies, specimens, a musical concert and a marathon.  061-320-3224 or lch560@hanmir.com

 

 

July

7/19-7/25	Boryeong Mud Festival	Mud massages; mud pool; mud game contest, mud body painting conest.  (really fun looking photo!)  http://www.boryeong.chungnam.kr or call 041-930-3542
7/26-8/1	Gangjin Celadon Festiva	Exhibition of Kangjin's native celadon; tour of celadon-potting sites and folk museum; screenings; performance of folk songs native to southern areas. http://www.gangjinfes.or.kr or ms9775@gangjinmail.net

 

August

8/7-8/17	Daejon Science Festival	International Science Exchange Exhibition; science magic show; the Encounter of Science and cartoons; animal robot contest; making solar strainers; experiencing robotics.  http://www/expopark.co.kr or yoongulee@hanmail.net
	Muan Lotus Festival	Joint Buddhist service; traditional drama performances; Buddhist Art Festival; lotus canvas-sketch contest; walk along a lotus path; straw-rope making contest.
8/22-8/30	Muju Firefly Festival	Prayer festival for fireflies to proliferate (since they can only live in a clean environment the proliferation of fireflies are an indicator of environmental health in the area); exploration o f lightning bugs; release of tasulgi, food for the firefly larva; firefly lectures; ecology photography exhibition; speech contest on environmental protection; drawing and essay contests.  http://www.firefly.or.kr or skkim@muju.org

 

September

8/29-9/7	Geumsan Ginseng Festival	International ginseng exhibition; ginseng harvesting; performances featuring folk groups from various countries; medicinal herb preparation.  http://www.Geumsan.chungnam.kr or http://www.insamfestival.co.kr and rla04@lycos.co.kr
9/24-9/28	Seogwipo Chilsipri Festival	Jejudo's unique folk culture and art blends with maritime culture.  Parade, hands-on experiences, art and culture programs, reenactments, Jeju women divers swimming contest, sea fishing contest.  http://www.infojeju.com email tourism@seogwipo.go.kr
9/26-10/5	Andong International Mask Dance Festival	International mask dance performances; Andong folk festival; Korean puppet shows; mask dance lessons; exhibition of mask dance paintings; mask making; totem pole carving;  demonstrations of traditional crafts; opportunities to buy traditional goods including ceramics, hanbok, Korean grown tea from the producers.  http://www.maskdance.com and webmaster@maskdance.com and call 054-851-6393
	Tongyong Laqcuer-ware Festival	Exhibition of lacquer-ware products; demonstration of the lacquer-ware manufacturing process and lessons; performances by prominent cultural artisans; seafood sampling and a marathon.

 

   

At the 2001 Andong Mask Dance Festival a Mexican Dancer, a rice threshing demo and a Korean Mask Dancer

October

10/1-10/5	Poonggi Ginseng Festival	Ginseng harvest; free oriental diagnostic examination; outdoor drama performance on the theme of ginseng; best quality ginseng contest; ginseng culinary contest; train ride.  http://tour.yeongju.go.kr or tour@yeongju.to
10/2-10/5	Kimje Horizon Festival	Walk along the rice paddies; experience traditional rural life; ox-cart carriage ride; scarecrow making; kite flying. http://www.egimje.net call 063-540-3948
10/1-10/5	Yangyang Pine Mushroom Festival	Mushroom picking; stay on a pine mushroom farm; selecting yangyang pine mushrooms; pine mushroom cake making; cooking with pine mushrooms and sacrificial rites to the mountain spirits.  http://yangyang-gun.gangwon.kr/festival email yyfestival@yahoo.co.kr
10/1-10/15	Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival	World Lantern Exhibition, hanging of wishing lanterns, lantern floating, lantern-making, fireworks on the river, flying of lanterns.  http://www.lampfest.com email culture@jinjucity.com
10/4-10/7	Nangye Traditional Korean Music Festival	Memorial rites for Bahk Yon a Joseon Kingdom musician whose pen name was Nangye; traditional music competition; performance featuring traditional musical instruments; dance performance based on the life of Nangye; traditional classical music concert; other concerts featuring famous traditional musicians.  http://yeondong.go.kr email anyasia@hanmail.net
9/30-10/6	Choongju World Martial Arts Festival	Demonstrations of Taekkyon and other traditional martial arts; performances featuring martial arts equipment; and martial arts movie screenings.  Demonstrations from foreign teams from all over the world. http://www.chungju.chungbuk.kr email maf@chungmail.net
10/15-10/19	Busan Chagalchi Festival	Reenactment of Korean traditional rites; bare-handed fish catching; eel relay race; foreigner's cooking contest; ferry tours; sushi preparation contest.  http://www.chalgalchi.co.kr email kjch@metro.busan.kr
10/14-10/19	Gwangju Kimchi Festival	Kimchi-making classes and contest; culinary contest for kimchi dishes; traditional cultural performances.  http://www.visit.gwangju.kr email b1552914@yahoo.co.kr
10/17-10/21	Ganggyeong Salted Seafood Festival	Taste the finest salted seafood.  Sea king ritual, sailing ritual, ritual praying for a good catch, folk play, dance of legendary nymphs, kimchi making.  http://www.nonsan.chungnam.kr call 041-730-1224
10/23-10/26	Incheon Rice Festival	Rice threshing, straw craftwork, rice cake making, turtle play, circle dance, open air market, kite-flying, straw shoes making, rice dish cooking contest.   http://www.ricefestival.or.kr email irice@kg21.net