Latest Events in Gangwon State(June Updated)

The Gangneung Dano Festival (강릉단오제) is one of the most representative traditional festivals in Korea, mainly held in Gangneung City, Gangwon Province. This festival has been listed as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO and has important cultural and historical significance. The celebrations of the Gangneung Dano Festival usually last for about a week and revolve around the Dano Festival on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month. During the festival, Gangneung City will hold a series of traditional activities, including sacrificial ceremonies, traditional music and dance performances, wrestling competitions, masked dances and various folk games. Particularly worth mentioning is the "단오굿" (Dano Festival), a large-scale shamanic ceremony aimed at praying for a good harvest and the happiness of the community. In addition, the Gangneung Dano Festival also features markets and exhibitions that showcase traditional handicrafts and food, allowing visitors to experience Korea's rich cultural heritage. This festival is not only an important cultural event for local residents, but also attracts many domestic and foreign tourists to participate and watch.

The Muryeongbyeol Yanagawa Pond Lavender Festival is an annual event at the scenic Muryeongbyeol Yanagawa Pond Park in Donghae, Gangwon Province. During the festival, 13,000 lavender plants bloom across a vast 20,000 square meter field, transforming the former mining area into a vibrant, fragrant oasis. Wander through the beautiful, expansive lavender fields, perfect for photo ops or a leisurely stroll.

Taebaek has the largest sunflower field in Korea, with a 5km flower sponge. There are exhibitions of works by Korean and international artists, a petting zoo, concerts, bonfire parties, and even nature films and documentaries for visitors to enjoy, and visitors can also hike to the nearby forest.

This festival pays tribute to the Korean writer Lee Hyo-seok and his legacy. His famous novel, When the Buckwheat Flowers Bloom, is set in Bongpyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, which is why the festival is held there every year. Amateurs and aspiring writers compete in essay and poetry competitions, while exhibitions offer a deeper understanding of the writer and his work. There are also performances and events for visitors. The area is also famous for its buckwheat, which is reflected in the various foods and dishes made from the grain sold at the festival.

The Pyeongchang Trout Festival is held every winter. In addition to various experience activities such as ice fishing, lure fishing, snow experience, ice experience, folk experience, etc., there are also winter folk games such as sleds and spinning tops, four-wheel ATV off-road vehicles, snow boating, sleigh trains and other activities. Trout caught by ice fishing or lure fishing can be commissioned to nearby restaurants for cooking and tasting on the spot. Pyeongchang has clear and cold water and is the first place in Korea to farm trout. Trout is nutritious and has a fresh taste and can be eaten as sashimi.

Gangneung has the best natural scenery and a long history in the country, and has been widely known as a treasure house of cultural heritage since ancient times. From the Silla era to the present, the footsteps of countless literati have never stopped, and they want to feel the breath of noble literary fragrance through the cultural heritage scattered throughout Gangneung. At the same time, Gangneung has established itself as the country's leading traditional cultural city and humanistic historical cultural city by protecting the cultural heritage handed down by predecessors with the utmost sincerity, but today we encounter the trend of the times where everything mixes with each other and creates new meanings and values. The project was selected as a competition project of the National Cultural Heritage Administration, and it has attracted national attention year after year, and is blooming as a cultural festival representing our region. Due to this attention and evaluation, Gangneung Cultural Heritage Night Tour was selected as the "Best Project for Cultural Heritage Utilization in 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023" and enjoyed the benefits of the "Director's Award of the National Heritage Administration" and budget increase. This is a feat achieved by combining the beautiful cultural heritage and traditional culture of Gangneung with the active participation of citizens.

The Wonju Yongsugu Autumn Flower Festival is the only flower festival in the country hosted by villagers, who carry out sowing, transplanting, weeding, and thinning in villages at the ri (Segok-ri) level. After the festival, people start planting and caring for autumn flowers and preparing through double-cropping.

Arirang is a globally renowned Korean folk song. Its roots span many regions, resulting in numerous versions across Korea. "Jeongseon Arirang," the source of all Arirang, was recognized in 2012 with its inclusion on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity List. The Jeongseon Arirang Festival aims to preserve and promote this folk song. The festival begins with the Seven Sages' Rite, commemorating the patriotic loyalty of the Seven Sages. The Seven Sages were seven loyal ministers from the late Goryeo Dynasty who figure in the origin story of "Jeongseon Arirang." The festival also includes prayers for a successful celebration and for the well-being of the Korean people. The festival includes 83 events, including the Arirang Parade and the National Arirang Singing Contest.