40th Anniversary of Ansan City ... A ‘Fall Cultural Festival’ to Enjoy with Citizens

Ansan City to Host Citizens’ Day Sports Competition

A Gathering for Unity Across 25 Districts

Ansan Festa 2026

Seven Festivals in One Place

Union Festival

A Youth-Led Celebration

Daebu Grape Festival

To Be Held Alongside Daebu Haesol-gil Walking Festival and Marathon

Ansan City in Gyeonggi Province, celebrating the 40th anniversary of its elevation to city status, is preparing a series of events this fall that span culture, sports, and learning, including athletics where citizens can participate, the city's signature fall festival, a youth festival, and various library programs. The Daebu Grape Festival will also be held as an event to showcase the autumn charm of Daebudo, in connection with the Daebu Haesol-gil Walking Festival and Ansan Marathon.

Lee Sunhee, Director of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of Ansan City, is explaining the plans for major cultural and sports events this fall at the first conference room in Ansan City Hall on the 8th. Photo by Lee Jonggu

On September 8, Ansan City announced its plans for major cultural and sports events for this fall and unveiled an expanded library service initiative to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Central Library during a policy briefing session.

On October 9, "The 40th Anniversary of City Promotion, 41st Citizen’s Day Commemorative Sports Competition" will be held at Ansan Wa~ Stadium. The event expects to draw more than 5,000 residents from 25 districts and will feature an entry ceremony, opening ceremony, sports competitions, talent shows by districts, and celebratory performances.

In particular, there will be a parade that brings out the characteristics of each district and a special event to mark the 40th anniversary, with the focus placed on intergenerational communication and unity rather than competition itself.

From October 23 to 25, "Ansan Festa 2026" will take place in and around Hwarang Recreation Area and Ansan Arts Center. Now in its third year, Ansan Festa brings together seven events, including the Kim Hongdo Festival, Lifelong Learning Festival, Food Culture Fair, Danwon Kim Hongdo Ssireum Competition, Welfare Expo for People with Disabilities, Urban Agriculture Festival, and the Resident Autonomy With (with) Community Expo.

The Kim Hongdo Festival will feature a courtyard play, a Kim Hongdo Folk Village, traditional performances, horseback riding, tea ceremony and hanbok experiences, as well as a Joseon-era tavern. There will also be the Kim Hongdo Sketch Competition and a media exhibition offering modern reinterpretations of his works.

The city will also implement measures to stimulate the local economy. A "delivery zone" will be established at the festival site, and receipts from nearby businesses will be part of a special event to encourage festival visitors to visit neighboring local markets and commercial districts.

Youth-led festivals will also continue. On October 31, under the slogan "Turn Up the Volume of Youth," the 4th Ansan Union Festival will be held at Wa~ Stadium.

Five local universities—Seoul Institute of the Arts, Shin Ansan University, Ansan University, Hanyang University ERICA, and Korea Hotel Tourism College—will join Ansan City in hosting the event. University students will participate directly in organizing the festival, running the "Union Cup" sports competition, "Union Star" performances, band concerts, policy and experience booths, and more.

The festival will conclude with an intercollegiate performance and fireworks display jointly prepared by the five universities.

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of its opening this year, the Central Library is being developed not just as a space for reading, but as a hub for daily life where citizens' knowledge and culture come together.

To date, Ansan City libraries have recorded a cumulative 30.84 million book loans and 36.49 million total users. Through initiatives such as the Citizen Book Reviewers program, 15 writers have emerged, and the city is also promoting independent publishing, where citizens turn their own stories into books, and new ways of enjoying reading—such as the "Reading Sharing (Text Hip)" campaign.

Specialized services tailored to each region are also offered. Wadong Education Library focuses on artificial intelligence and education; Gwansan Library specializes in international culture; Ansan Media Library focuses on media and creative fields; and Wolpi Art Library is dedicated to the arts. These efforts are enhancing the creative abilities and cultural diversity of local residents.

Min-geun Lee, Mayor of Ansan, said, "The 40th anniversary of the city's elevation is not just a time to look back, but a meaningful turning point to prepare for a new future based on the history we have built together with all citizens. I am deeply grateful to all our citizens who have led Ansan’s growth and development over the past 40 years."

He continued, "Through the Citizens’ Day Sports Competition, Ansan Festa, and Union Festival, all citizens can come together, share their pride in Ansan, and further strengthen the cultural foundation in everyday life. Building on the history created by the sweat and passion of our citizens, we will stride forward toward a bright future for the next 100 years of Ansan, together with you."

Jinkwon Jung, Director of the Agricultural Technology Center of Ansan City, is briefing the plan to promote the Daebu Grape Festival in the first conference room of Ansan City Hall on the 8th. Photo by Jonggu Lee

Daebu Grape Festival Returns in September ... “Daebudo's Signature Fall Festival”

A festival will also be held to celebrate Daebu grapes, Ansan’s representative agricultural specialty.

On September 19–20, Ansan City will hold the "2026 Daebu Grape Festival" in the Daebu Badahyanggi Theme Park area. As was the case last year, it will be a comprehensive fall festival spanning the Daebudo region, jointly held with the Daebu Haesol-gil Walking Festival and Ansan Marathon.

This year, the festival will debut a grape auction and grape delivery service, with all proceeds being donated to the local community. Themed exhibition halls commemorating the 40th anniversary of city status and the 70th anniversary of Daebu grapes will also be introduced, along with new programs such as a senior fashion show and a family-participation OX quiz.

In collaboration with local universities, desserts utilizing Daebu grapes will be presented, and the Gran Coteaux “Cheongsoo” wine—selected as the official banquet wine for the 2025 APEC Summit—will be introduced. Family-oriented experiences, such as grape stomping, a timber playground, and horseback riding, will also be available.

A direct marketplace will be set up so visitors can purchase high-quality Daebu grapes and other local farm and specialty products directly from producers. The city plans to increase rest areas and shade structures, as well as add more parking spaces and visitor amenities.

Mayor Min-geun Lee stated, "This is a special occasion to jointly commemorate the 40th anniversary of the city's promotion and the 70th anniversary of Daebu grapes, and we will do our utmost to ensure all citizens and visitors enjoy a safe and pleasant time. We will continue to make every effort for the Daebu Grape Festival to become the undisputed representative fall festival for both Ansan and Daebudo."

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