Korean Spring Festivals You Shouldn’t Miss!

                                           Korean Spring Festival's You Shouldn't Miss !
         
                         

Spring is coming! Spring is coming! As the end of winter approaches and people across Korea start to shed their many warm layers in favor of lighter brightly colored pieces of clothing, the streets start to fill up with everyone who had hidden away and the search begins for outdoor events to enjoy. There are certainly plenty of things to see from flowers blooming to miraculous seas parting. Where will you go this spring?

                    Gurye Sansuyu Festival 구례산수유축제                                                                                    MARCH 22, 2014 – MARCH 30, 2014
           

The beautiful yellow Sansuyu, or Japanese Dogwood, flowers blanket the Jirisan mountain range and visitors to the area in the spring can partake in sansuyu makkoli tasting while watching traditional dances, rites and musical performances. If Gurye is a bit too far for you, there is a smaller, but no less fun,Sansuyu Festival. Try some sansuyu pancakes, makkoli and soup and play some traditional Korean games with a beautiful yellow backdrop.

           Jindo Miracle Sea Road 진도 신비의 바닷 축제                                  MARCH 30, 2014 – APRIL 2, 2014
                 
This is not the festival for those looking for an easy weekend getaway but for those that choose the trek, it is definitely worth it. Set down in the southwest corner of the country, Jindo offers up a spectacular event centered on what some call a miracle akin to the Moses sea parting. The waves part and on the muddy road that connects the mainland to an island 2.8 kilometers off the coast spectators don thigh high galoshes and head out to scrounge for shellfish, find star fish and just enjoy the generally awesome event. Concerts and good eats on the shore keep visitors busy while the path is wet.

                    Cherry Blossom Festivals  

              

Spring would not be complete without cherry blossom festivals and there is sure to be one near you. Here are just a few, find the nearest one near you! but expect to see these flowers blooming in April.

1. 

Jinhae Gunhangje Festival : (April 1, 2014 – April 10, 2014): This is the largest cherry blossom festival in the country and not only celebrates the blossoming of spring but also celebrates the Admiral Yi Sun Shin.

2. Hwagae Cherry Blossom Festival : ‘The 10ri Cherry Blossom Road’ is the draw for this festival. 10 ri equals approximately 4.5 kilometers of cherry blossoms to enjoy and it is said if lovers walk down this road holding hands they will live happily together forever.

3. Gyeongpo Cherry Blossom Festival : Gyeongpo has a 4.3 kilometer long walk around a gorgeous lake that is lined with cherry blossoms and that’s not the only thing worth a visit, the beach that sits just beyond the lake is gorgeous as well. There are various cultural events and flower exhibitions

4. Hangang Yeouido Spring Flower Festival : If you have no time to get out of the city, a popular place to head to welcome the spring with cherry blossom festivals is Yeouido. Around 1,500 cherry blossom trees bloom and the roads are blocked to traffic to allow visitors full access. An added bonus is that these flowers are lit up at night, so enjoy the flowers from day into night this spring.

                           Nonsan Strawberry Festival 논산딸기축제

                                                        APRIL 2, 2014 – APRIL 6, 2014

Who doesn’t like filling their bellies with delicious strawberries? The Nonsan Strawberry festival is the place to do that and more. Sculptures of strawberries and strawberry displays greet visitors to fair grounds where they can buy strawberry jams, strawberry hot sauce, strawberry pancakes and many more delicious strawberry delicacies as well as partake in mask making, painting and more, but the highlight by far is hopping aboard one of the shuttle buses and heading out to the strawberry fields where you can pick and eat strawberries to your bellies content.

                                   Gijisi Juldarigi Festival 기지시 줄다리기축제

                                                   

Have you ever wanted to participate ina massive tug-of-war? If your answer is yes then you should head to Dangjin this spring. From February 1st of the Lunar calendar the rope for the festivities begins to be spun from straw. The main rope measures in at 200 meters in length and 1.8cm in diameter and weighs up to 40 tons. When I said massive, I meant it! Anyone can take part in this festival that wishes for a good harvest and prosperity

                            Gwangalli Eobang Festival 광안리 어방축제

                                                      

                                                   

Not that you need an excuse to head down to Busan, but if you want a fun festival while you’re there, here’s one. The Gwangalli Eobang Festival celebrates the coming of spring and the ocean with bare-hand fishing, cooking contests and lots of good food to eat. Be sure to visit the nearby fish market where you can choose your own fish to eat for dinner and then head back to the beach to watch the bridges light up the night sky.

                                      Chuncheon International Mime Festival
                                                           춘천 국제마임축제

                                         
This festival that takes place just a hop, skip and a jump outside of Seoul is eight days of performances by Korean and international teams. There is not only miming, but also music, dance, installation art and short films for the enjoying pleasure of visitors. This festival is the perfect way to head into the summer music and art festival fun that is sure to come.

                                     So Which Festival You Would Like to Enjoy !!