"Toechon with Clear Water, Tomatoes Ripe with Water"... Gwangju City to Open Toechon Tomato Street Festival on June 19

Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province, Toechon Tomato Street Festival
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A Summer of Water Play and Tomatoes

The 24th Toechon Tomato Street Festival, the representative summer festival of Gwangju City in Gyeonggi Province, will be held for three days from June 19 to 21 in the Gwangdong-ri area of Toechon-myeon.

The 24th Toechon Tomato Street Festival, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province's representative summer festival, will be held for three days from the 19th to the 21st in the Gwangdong-ri area of Toechon-myeon. Provided by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province

This year’s festival, hosted by the Gwangju City Cultural Foundation, is held under the slogan “Toechon with Clear Water, Tomatoes Ripe with Water (and Color),” aiming to promote the excellence of Toechon tomatoes, the signature agricultural product of Gwangju. At the same time, the festival has greatly expanded hands-on programs that families can enjoy together.

The opening ceremony on June 19 at 5:30 p.m. will be hosted by announcer Lee Haneul, and will feature a street performance by the Gwangju Municipal Gwangjiwon Nongak Troupe, a brass band performance, and a parade by the Toechon Youth Culture Center. The opening concert, featuring the acoustic band River Bros and singer Choi Seongsu, will follow to further enliven the festival atmosphere.

On the evenings of the second and third days, celebratory performances will be hosted by comedian Lee Hongryeol. On June 20, singers Lee Gwangjo and Jang Euna will perform, and on June 21, Woo Yeon-i and Marcus Kang will take the stage, offering a variety of musical performances for visitors. Local cultural arts organizations and community culture clubs will also present performances throughout the festival, offering even more to see and enjoy.

This year’s festival will feature unique hands-on programs to help attendees beat the heat. “Tomato Gold Hunter” is a water play experience that combines a tomato ball pool, water slides, and a mission capsule search. “Ice Hornet Hunter” is a game where participants rescue hornets trapped in ice, and will be held in front of the main stage at 1:30 p.m. on the weekend.

On the morning of June 20, a special program using Toechon tomatoes will also take place. Celebrity chef Jo Seohyeong, known for appearances on popular cooking survival programs, will host a cooking demonstration featuring tomatoes. This will be followed by the “Ugly Tomato Cooking Contest,” where citizens can participate and showcase creative dishes using Toechon’s “ugly tomatoes,” which may look uneven but are known for their excellent taste and nutrition.

A stamp tour challenge will also take place throughout the festival venue. Visitors can complete various missions and collect stamps to receive up to three different souvenirs, making it an event that families are especially encouraged to join.

Additionally, a direct sales market for Toechon tomatoes will be set up. A 4-kilogram box of regular tomatoes will be sold for 20,000 won, and a 2-kilogram box of cherry tomatoes will also be available for 20,000 won, allowing visitors to purchase fresh local produce at reasonable prices.

The 24th Toechon Tomato Street Festival, Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province's representative summer festival, will be held for three days from the 19th to the 21st in the Gwangdong-ri area of Toechon-myeon. Photo by Gwangju City, Gyeonggi Province

Oh Seyoung, CEO of the Gwangju City Cultural Foundation, stated, “We have prepared a variety of hands-on activities and performances so that we can widely promote the excellence of Toechon tomatoes grown in a pristine natural environment and allow citizens and tourists to enjoy the festival and forget the summer heat. We hope many people will participate and help make this a festival created and enjoyed together by the community.”

Meanwhile, during the festival, free shuttle buses will operate between Gwangju City Hall, Gwangju Intercity Bus Terminal, Gyeonggi Gwangju Station, and the festival venue. For more details, please visit the Gwangju City Cultural Foundation website.

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