Temperatures drop in South Korea as of September rolls around. And gentle breezes provide the perfect weather for exploring the country and its many cultural activities. Festivals reflect the energy and excitement of the autumn harvest. This post is about the amazing opportunities to embrace the best Fall festivals in South Korea.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Must-See Fall Festivals in South Korea
Best Festivals For Fall Fun
Name it and there is probably a festival for it in South Korea. From fish to films, South Korea enjoys celebrating everything. Here are 4 Must-See Fall Festivals within a few hours from Camp Walker in Daegu South Korea. Most of them reflect the Autumn harvest, the people’s dedication to their culture and traditions as well as its new-found influence on the rest of the world. Although there are a dozen festivals I can think of, here are four of my personal favorites.
Chuseok
All Over South Korea
September 23 – September 26, 2018
This is not your typical festival. Chuseok is the South Korean equivalent to the American Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a 3-day long festival devoted to the harvest and ancestors. Chuseok foods have ceremonial relevance as well as their placement on the dinner table. It’s all very visual and complicated (to foreigners) at the same time.
Chuseok is mainly celebrated at home with family and friends. However, there are also public performances: singing, dancing, and storytelling. And if you are lucky enough to be invited, I wholeheartedly recommend that you go. But don’t forget a gift. Common Chuseok gifts include pears, apples, grapes, and Spam. Yes Spam.
Andong Mask Dance Festival
Andong
September 28 – October 7, 2018
The festival has over 50 events, but the highlight is the National & International Mask Dance Performances and World Mask Competitions. Competitors come from all around the world. We went the day they had performances by the Philippines and Japan. A taste of Thailand just before our first of three trips: Phuket, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai.
There are dozens of vendors hawking everything from sneakers to kitchen spoons to soaps and perfumes. Fresh and dried fish, octopus, silkworms, and fresh fruits and vegetables baked under the intense sun. Nuts, spices, berries and something the resembled rice crispy treats toppled into tall towers… easily toppled by unsteady hands. Hands-on demonstrations of mask making, dance groups including very young (and possibly mildly inappropriately dressed) belly dancers.
Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival
Jinju
October 1 – October 14, 2018
I loved the lantern festivals the most. This beautiful festival features brightly colored lanterns floating on the glassy stream. Visitors can make their own wish lanterns and send it downstream or even submit an entry to the most innovative lantern contest. Traditional lanterns from all over the world are on display as well. But the festival’s main draw is the simple beauty of thousands of lanterns lighting up the night near the Jinjuseong Fortress.
If you can’t make the lantern festival in Jinju, check out the Seoul Lantern Festival next month. The 10th annual festival will be held from November 2nd through the 18th. And although, I haven’t been to this one. But I have walked the 1.2 km long water path along the Cheonggyecheon Stream from Cheonggyecheon Square to Supyogyo Bridge where it will be held.
The Busan Fireworks Festival
Busan
October 27, 2018
Fireworks are always fun. An hour of fireworks, synchronized to music is amazing. And laser lights over the longest suspension bridge in South Korea adds to the excitement of million people is a spectacle.
The Busan Fireworks Festival takes place every October on Gwangalli Beach in Busan. The festival has cultural events and entertainment, high-tech laser light shows, and culminates with one of them, if not the best, fireworks display I’ve ever seen. It is one of the area’s most popular festivals, drawing crowds of more than 1 million visitors every year. As a result, most people flock to the beach for a closer view of the festivities. However, nearby Hwangnyeongsan Mountain also offers the best panoramic view of the fireworks.
This year the festival was on October 22nd. Click here for the video.
Related Content
Follow me on Facebook and Subscribe to the Duffelbagspouse Travels RSS feed and get updates delivered right into your inbox.
Comments
Wow!! Thanks! This is a great reference when I plan my trip to Korea. Lantern festival is soo interesting. ?
I would love to visit South Korea, and seems like fall would be the best time to visit there. These festivals looks like a real fun event.
Chuseok and Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival both sound so cool. I love any kind of festival that has to do with a harvest and I ber the dishes presented are wonderful. And from the picture alone, the Jinju Namgang Yudeung Lantern Festival looks gorgeous.
South Korea in fall sounds exotic. Especially those festivities are inviting.
I would really like to visit South Korea and the fall would be a nice time because it’s already cool. But I dunno if I wanna join the festivals. I know that it’s gonna be crowded. I just want to enjoy the sceneries and the place without other people elbowing with me. hehe
I hope to visit South Korea one day, especially the lantern festivals. These are some wonderful things to do during the fall.
The lantern festivals are my favorite too. They are so beautiful, watching them soar into the air or float away downstream with messages attached and the music is an unbelievable experience.
Love the lantern festival, would love to attend that one day.
You should, its one of my favorite festivals too.
Ah so much to see in the world and so little time! REading these blogs are making my bucket list longer 🙂
I agree. I have a bigger stomach for travel than I can afford.
Korea is one of the most beautiful country in the world. The cultural, people, food and locations are so warm and vibrant. I totally loved their lantern festival and the arts are so beautiful. Must visit again soon.
I agree so much. I love the country, festivals, food and people in South Korea. The hiking there is really good too.
South Korea has one of the most interesting festivities in Asia. It’s a shame that it’s relatively difficult to obtain a visa to get to this country… given the chance, I’d really love to participate in any of these festivals!
So true. It is a very interesting country with so many festivals and things to do and experience.
The fireworks display sounds so good! I can’t imagine it lasting so long. My kids would love that too.
It’s like a feature length movie in the sky. It’s so amazing.
I’d love to see the lantern festival the most! It’s so pretty! Can’t wait to visit Korea again!
xoxo
Annie
I’ve wanted to visit South Korea for such a long time now. I’ve had so many friends go over and rave about how incredible the country is. It’s so close to Australia, I definitely should try and get there ASAP. Especially when one of the festivals are going on.
good source of information, like it, I gone through the Combadia as i am at siem reap now ….i enjoyed to read it
Thank you. I loved Cambodia and I hope you do too. I look forward to reading all about it on your blog.
Love this! looks so fun and colorful! South Korea offers so many wonderful experiences during the fall. I hope to visit one day, especially the lantern festivals.
So true. Its a very colorful country in more ways than one. I miss how festive the people are when they are celebrating their heritage and traditions.