Enjoy A Feast Of Arts and Cuture Spring Festivals In Korea

Spring in Korea

Spring in Korea brings with it a feast of festival events all over the country.  With the cherry blossoms come many festivals celebrating the return of Spring.  All over Korea from April – May there are many flower, food and cultural festivals. The cherry blossom festival is at its peak right now until late April and there are many areas around Korea to enjoy this beautiful sight.  Along with the blossoms come many cultural festivals which are of great interest to visitors to the country. 

Festivals for the Arts and Culture Lovers
Koreans treasure their long history and rich cultural heritage. Every spring brings festivals to celebrate Korean culture and to ensure it is passed down to future generations. The festivals cover a diversity of genres, celebrating everything from Korea’s world famous ceramic history to mosi (ramie fabric) to mime. There are plenty of oppunities for visitors to both watch and participate in festival events.

Chuncheon International Mime Festival

Chuncheon International Mime Festival

Dates: May 22 - May 29, 2011

Venue: Gangwon-do Chuncheon-si Chuncheon Culture & Art Center and other theaters in downtown

Description: As one of the leading performance arts festivals in Korea, the Chuncheon International Mime Festival has also gained strong international recognition. The Mime Festival is a lot of fun for young and old.  The festival invites 90 mime groups from Korea and 10 from overseas. Visitors can attend events in various genres, including mime, music, dance, installation art, and short films. Shows are held in theatres and at the outdoor stages of Chuncheon.

Lotus Lantern Festival

Lotus Lantern Festival

Dates: May 18 - May 20, 2012

Venue: Seoul-si Jongno area and Samseong-dong Bongeunsa Temple area in northern Seoul.

Description: The Lotus Lantern Festival is held in celebration of Buddha's birthday. The festival is one of the leading events of Seoul, where locals and international visitors join together in cheerful festivities. Various hands-on events include lotus making your own lotus lantern and drawing pictures of Buddha. There are also opportunities to sample traditional temple food. Not to be missed is the evening parade on the streets of Jongro featuring a hundred thousand lanterns of different shapes and design. There are opportunities also to experience the templestay program and temple foods.

Damyang Bamboo Festival

Damyang Bamboo Festival

Dates: May 1 - May 6, 2012

Venue: Jeollanam-do Damyang-gun Juknokwon Garden and Gwanbangjerim Forest

Description: Damyang in Jeollanam-do province in the south west of the country is famous for its forests of bamboo trees. Visitors can walk in the bamboo groves, ride on a bamboo raft, or shoot a bamboo arrow. A variety of performances will be staged, including a bamboo dance.

Mungyeong Chasabal Festival

Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival

Dates: April 30 - May 8, 2011

Venue: Gyeongsangbuk-do Mungyeongsaejae area (Open Drama Set & Ceramics Exhibition Hall)

Description: The Mungyeong Traditional Chasabal Festival is organized in a venue where the old streets of the Joseon era (1392-1910) are reproduced. Visitors can make traditional chatsabal tea bowls, draw chatsabal paintings, and sample a number of Korean teas. Various exhibitions of ceramics and chatsabal bowls are held.

Icheon Ceramic Festival

Icheon Ceramic Festival
Dates: April 28 – May 20, 2012

Venue: Gyeonggi-do Icheon-si Seolbong Park area, in Incheon nearby Seoul. 

Description: Held for the 26th time this year, the Icheon Ceramic Festival is a leading ceramics festival in Korea. It is held under the theme of ‘Ceramics, sharing, and resting.’ At the festival venue, visitors can see exhibitions of various types of ceramics, as well as try their hand at making their own work of art. . The festival also features ceramic sales, hands-on programs using ceramics, and cultural music and dance performances.

Namwon Chunhyang Festival

Namwon Chunhyang Festival
Dates: April 27 - May 1, 2012

Venue: Jeollabuk-do Namwon-si Gwanghalluwon Garden, Chunhyang Culture and Art Center, and downtown area

Description: The Namwon Chunhyang Festival is based on the story of Chunhyang, who endured hardship and kept her chastity for her love, Lee Mong-ryong. The festival features the Chunhyang Pageant Contest, a theatrical play staged outdoors, traditional Korean music and farmers' music performances, and a ssireum (wrestling) tournament.

Yeoju Ceramic Festival

Yeoju Ceramic Festival
Dates: April 21 – May 13, 2012

Venue: Gyeonggi-do Yeoju-gun Silleuksa Temple area

Description: Yeoju has produced ceramics since the early Goryeo period, over 1000 years ago. In the early Joseon Dynasty, the province produced high-quality Goryeongto (Kaolin pottery) and Baekto (white clay pottery), whose fame boosted the city’s ceramic production. Come and visit the works of ceramic designers as well as those made by famous artists. The Product Sales Pavilion features 90 or so ceramic producers selling white porcelain, celadon porcelain, and everyday ceramic items at reasonable prices.

Daegaya Experience Festival

Daegaya Experience Festival

Dates: April 19 - April 22, 2012

Venue: Gyeongsangbuk-do Goryeong-gun Daegaya Museum and surrounding area

Description: The Daegaya Experience Festival is an oppVenueunity to learn about the history and culture of the ancient kingdom of the Great Gaya (AD 42-562). During the festival, visitors can experience life in the kingdom's army and learn to make a bow. A replica village of the Great Gaya kingdom recreates the lifestyle of the era.

This is just a small taste of Springtime festival fun in Korea, to enjoy more of what Korea offers visitors during the Spring festivals go to the official travel website for Korea: www.visitkorea.or.kr and search ‘Spring Festivals’