Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival Embraces Autumn ... Kicks Off October 31

Nighttime Water Fireworks and Celebrity Chef Cuisine

New Attractions Including the Chrysanthemum Face-Painting Contest and More

The Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival, which has earned nationwide recognition as a major festival, is making thorough preparations to welcome both tourists and local residents.

On September 28, Changwon Special City announced that the 26th Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival will be held for nine days from October 31 to November 8, centered around 3.15 Marine Nuri Park, as well as Happo Riverside Park and Masan Marine New Town.

Masan Chrysanthemum Festival Fireworks Show.
Photo by Changwon City

This year’s festival, with the slogan “Chrysanthemums, Embracing the Autumn Sea,” will significantly expand its festival space and introduce a diverse range of new content. These include a nighttime fireworks display over the water, a chrysanthemum face-painting contest, and a variety of unique food experiences, elevating the event into an even more vibrant autumn celebration.

The festival grounds will be divided into three zones, each offering content tailored to highlight the unique characteristics of its location. The main exhibition venue, Zone 1 at 3.15 Marine Nuri Park, will host eight themed exhibitions decorated with 100,000 chrysanthemum plants, as well as the opening ceremony and a multimedia fireworks show.

Notably, this year will mark the debut of “Nighttime Fireworks on Water,” an emotional evening program, and the audience-participation “Chrysanthemum Face-Painting Contest,” both offering visitors a new and memorable experience against the backdrop of the autumn sea at night.

At Zone 2, located at Happo Riverside Park, a “local business partnership fireworks show” and a night sea festival performance at Masan Port will further enhance the romantic ambiance of the autumn night alongside the city’s waterfront scenery.

The newly established Zone 3 at Masan Marine New Town will be curated as a special space targeting Millennials & Gen Z, with youth-oriented contents. Visitors will be able to experience everything from a food plaza and open-air autumn cinema, to a wedding photo zone and an AI experience booth, all in one place, covering food, cultural activities, entertainment, and relaxation.

There will also be new initiatives aimed at diversifying the festival’s food offerings and boosting economic benefits for local businesses. The festival’s food plaza will seek to feature renowned chefs who appeared on the hit tvN cooking survival show “Street Restaurant Fighter,” giving citizens and tourists the opportunity to try new and exciting foods.

Significant efforts will also go into expanding convenient facilities and improving safety and service management to reduce visitor inconvenience. Parking capacity will be increased by 1,000 spaces, from 4,500 last year to 5,500, and the number of temporary restrooms will be raised from 5 to 9.

During the festival, a variety of associated autumn events will also be held, including the Gagopa Masan Port Night Sea Festival, Changwon Dragon Boat Race, Changwon World Dikashi Festival, and Changdong Ramen Festival, providing even more attractions for visitors.

Kang Ki-yoon, Mayor of Changwon Special City, stated, “This year’s Masan Gagopa Chrysanthemum Festival will expand its spaces and greatly enrich its content, aiming to become a signature festival that everyone will want to visit again. Above all, we have carefully prepared every detail to ensure it is a safe and trustworthy festival, so I hope everyone will create special memories with their loved ones, surrounded by the scent of chrysanthemums along the Masan sea this autumn.”

With Changwon City preparing the Masan Gagopa Festival as its signature event, every effort will be made to ensure that the festival gains nationwide acclaim, attracting many couples, tourists, and families to the venue.

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