"Art of Light on Salt Flats, Gaetgol Seen from Hot Air Balloon"... Siheung City to Open Gaetgol Festival on the 18th

Siheung City to Host 21 Programs at Gaetgol Ecological Park Until the 20th
Zoo, Park Hyekyung, Seo Yeongeun to Perform... 44 Hydrogen Electric Shuttles in Operation
A Sustainable Festival with Reusable Containers and Citizens' Environmental Monitoring

As the cool autumn breeze arrives, Siheung Gaetgol Ecological Park in Gyeonggi Province transforms into a festival ground where nature and art come together.

Participants are experiencing salt farms at the Siheung Gaetgol Festival held last year. Provided by Siheung City

On September 14, Siheung City (Mayor Lim Byeong-taek) announced that the 21st Siheung Gaetgol Festival will be held at the Gaetgol Ecological Park for three days from September 18 to September 20. This year's festival theme is "Path Drawn by the Sea, Art Crafted by the Wind."

The Siheung Gaetgol Festival is an ecological and arts festival held in Korea’s only inland tidal flat park, the Gaetgol Ecological Park.

Since 2017, it has continuously been selected as a Cultural Tourism Festival, and it has received accolades such as the Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals & Events Association and the top prize in the content category at the Korea Representative Festival Expo.

This year, 21 programs are scheduled, including the night Yeompan performance "Memory of Salt, Dance of Water," a fantasy hot air balloon experience, the Gaetgol Explorers, and the "SEA POOL PARTY." The festival grounds will be designed according to the characteristics of different areas, such as Gaetgol Road, Eco Road, Life Road, Salt Farm Road, Wind Road, and Grass Road.

2025 Night Salt Plate Performance ‘Memory of Salt, Dance of Water’. Provided by Siheung City

The Salt Farm Road, which symbolizes the Gaetgol, will serve as the main stage. The number of art performance venues on the salt farm will increase from one last year to three this year. Performances using fabric and lights to express the wind will color the salt flats on autumn nights. Visitors will also be able to experience the process of making salt firsthand at the salt farm.

The "SEA POOL PARTY," which received the highest preference in the pre-festival survey, will also be held. This program allows participants to enjoy water play along with DJ performances and magic shows.

On Life Road, family-friendly activities for children and families will be featured. These include puppet shows based on the story of a spoonbill family and the secrets of the salt warehouse, insect experiences with Bugsrium, the Gaetgol Explorers family ecoprogram, and the Tree Forest Music Festival.

At Grass Road, a natural grass plaza, fall music concerts will continue for three days. On the first day, four teams including the Kim Siyeong Band will perform. On September 19, there will be performances by Zoo, Bicycle Riding View, and Travel Sketch. On the final day, September 20, Park Hyekyung and Seo Yeongeun will take the stage.

Wind Road will offer a fantasy hot air balloon experience, allowing participants to view Gaetgol’s unique tidal flat landscape and open natural scenery from above. The experience runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except from noon to 4 p.m. The schedule may change depending on weather conditions.

2025 Siheung Gaetgol Festival Hot Air Balloon Experience. Provided by Siheung City

On Gourmet Road, there will be six food trucks and seven ready-to-eat food vendors. There will also be a farmers’ market, a sharing market, and a handmade craft flea market. Additional events, such as the 9th Salt Festival, the Art Festival on the Street, the Gaetgol National Art Competition, and the Gaetgol Stamp Rally, will take place.

Efforts for an eco-friendly festival will continue as well. The food area will use reusable containers to reduce disposable waste. Mats made from recycled banners will be provided to visitors, and a program will be held for citizens to pick up litter around the festival grounds.

For the festival’s shuttle service, 44 hydrogen electric vehicles will be in operation. The shuttle running between Siheung City Hall’s main gate and the festival site will run for all three days of the festival. The lines connecting Oido Station to Baegot, Sincheon Station to Eungye, and the Mokgam Community Center will operate only on weekends.

Citizens are also participating in the planning and operation of the festival. The festival organizing committee, consisting of experts in culture, art, environment, and ESG fields, along with youth representatives, members of the residential council, and members of the city council, jointly discussed everything from the basic plan to program organization, safety management, and promotional strategies. There are also activities in which citizens directly investigate and evaluate the festival’s impact on the local community and environment.

Carbon Neutrality Experience and Health-related Booth. Provided by Siheung City

The city plans to provide spaces accessible for strollers and wheelchairs, as well as designated parking for visitors with disabilities, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the festival comfortably. Detailed schedules of each program and the shuttle bus timetables can be found on the Siheung City Hall blog and the Siheung Gaetgol Festival website.

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