Gyeongbuk Province Kicks Off September Autumn Festival Curtain Raiser

Pohang International Fireworks, Gatbawi Wish Fulfillment Festival, International Mask Dance Festival Overflow

Festivals Arrive on Cool Autumn Breeze... Cities and Counties Turn Red

The "Pohang International Fireworks Festival" opening on September 23.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Gwiyeol] Gyeongbuk Province will unleash a flood of festivals starting in September.

In September alone, 17 festivals will be held across various cities and counties.

The province plans to attract visitors riding the cool breeze to these festivals throughout the cities and counties, aiming to boost the local economy.

Known as Samgang (Three Rivers) because the Nakdong River flowing past Andong Hahoe, the Naeseongcheon winding around Hoeryongpo, and the Geumcheon coming from Mungyeong meet to form three river streams, the area is home to Samgang Jumak, an inn that once fed the hungry boatmen, peddlers, and noble scholars traveling along the rivers during the Joseon Dynasty.

During this Chuseok holiday, the hometown visitors and tourists are expected to flock to Yecheon Samgang Jumak, creating a bustling scene. The Yecheon Samgang Jumak Ferry Festival will be held from October 10 to 12 at the Samgang Cultural Complex and Hancheon Sports Park.

Yecheon County plans to boldly cancel the traditional opening ceremony for this festival and instead fill the festival period with various experiential programs and family-style picnics under the theme “Samgang Ferry Under the Starlight, Stay a While.”

The experiential programs will be held eight times a day at the Peddlers’ Cultural Experience Village within the Samgang Cultural Complex, offering seven activities including traditional straw craft such as egg bundles and cup coasters, making Samgang Jumak gel candles, and making Songpyeon rice cakes for Chuseok.

Fifty percent of the spots will be available for advance reservation, and the other fifty percent will be open for on-site registration.

Additionally, the picnic program is accepting advance reservations for 50 teams per day. Reservations can be made through Naver Store until the 30th of this month.

Other diverse events such as traditional Korean music and invited singer performances, as well as peddler costume experiences, will delight the eyes and ears of hometown visitors and tourists.

On the 23rd of next month, the “Pohang International Light Festival” will open.

Under the theme “Pohang, Land of Hope!” it will be held for three days at the Hyeongsan River Sports Park. Starting with the opening declaration at 6 p.m. on the 23rd, a multimedia show featuring lasers, water screens, and dazzling lights will be presented.

In addition, teams will be recruited and selected in a competition format to showcase Korea’s largest light parade.

At 8 p.m. on the 24th, a grand finale fireworks show will be held featuring a collaboration of the Philippines, Italy, Sweden, and Korea.

On the 29th of next month, the “Andong International Mask Dance Festival,” designated as an honorary cultural tourism festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, will begin. This year, the festival will undergo a large-scale transformation from its traditional format.

The biggest change is that most festival events will be held in the original downtown area of Andong instead of the usual Mask Dance Park, aiming to encourage local residents’ participation and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.

The Andong International Mask Dance Festival, held simultaneously with the Andong Folk Festival under the theme "A World in Turmoil, The Return of the Hero."

The festival will open with a ceremony at 6 p.m. on the 30th at a special stage on Gyeongdong-ro (in front of Andong Homeplus) and will run for five days until October 3 under the theme “Masking a Troubled World, Return of the Hero,” held simultaneously with the Andong Folk Festival.

Various events such as domestic and international mask dance performances, mask play competitions, and large-scale mask play gatherings will take place. Visitors can also enjoy the festival at market busking stages and regional tourism hubs like Hahoe Village and Wolyeonggyo Bridge.

For more details about the festival, please visit the Andong International Mask Dance Festival website.

Additionally, in September, Gyeongbuk will host the Alcohol Culture Festival (September 2?3) at Andong Wolyeonggyo Bridge, the 2022 World Heritage Festival (September 3?25) in Andong and Yeongju areas, and the Gatsbawi Wish Fulfillment Festival in Gyeongsan (September 24?25).

Kim Sangcheol, Director of the Culture, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Gyeongbuk Province, said, “With the Chuseok holiday in September, many hometown visitors and family tourists are expected to visit the region. We hope that local festivals will enhance the Gyeongbuk tourism brand and contribute to revitalizing the tourism economy. We encourage everyone to visit the Gyeongbuk festivals this fall and create wonderful memories.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.