Geochang Grand Festival Opens October 1... To Be Held for Four Days Throughout Geochang-eup

Under the Theme 'Let's Go to Geochang 9 Sceneries! Exciting Hanmadang' Until the 4th
Linked with Arim Arts Festival, Residents’ Sports Festival, and Agricultural Products Grand Festival
Performances by Park Jihyun, H1-KEY, and More... Kidsland and Youth Zone Also Featured
The 2026 Geochang Grand Festival to Be Held from October 1 to 4

The “2026 Geochang Grand Festival” will be held for four days from October 1 to 4, 2026, at Geochang Sports Park and throughout the Geochang-eup area.

This year's festival, themed “Let's Go to Geochang 9 Sceneries! Exciting Hanmadang,” features resident participation programs, cultural and artistic performances, sports events, agricultural specialty product sales and exhibitions, lifelong learning activities, and a range of performances, all interconnected throughout the event.

[Photo by Geochang County] The official poster for the "2026 Geochang Hanmadang Festival," which will be held from October 1 to 4 at Geochang Sports Park and around Geochang-eup.

During the festival period, there will be a street parade, a ceremony for Geochang Citizens' Day, the 54th Arim Arts Festival, the 81st Sports Festival for Residents, the Green Granary Geochang Agricultural Products Grand Festival, and the Lifelong Learning Festival.

The National Geochang Hometown Association Unity Sports Competition, the All-Family Multicultural Festival, and the Bicycle Tour Changpowon Picnic will also be held as part of the festivities.

◆ Cultural and Sports Events for Residents' Participation

The street parade will showcase performances and acts by professional parade teams as well as local participants.

At the Sports Festival for Residents, games in various events will be held with the participation of residents from towns and villages. The National Geochang Hometown Association Unity Sports Competition will welcome Geochang natives from all over the country.

The Arim Arts Festival, themed “Blooming Flowers of Arim Arts,” consists of performance and exhibition programs by local cultural and arts professionals.

The Lifelong Learning Festival includes participation from local organizations, institutions, and learning clubs. Under the theme “A Town United in Learning! Geochang Expands through AI,” the festival will feature 100 promotional and experience booths, performances, an Elementary School Reading Golden Bell, an Adult Literacy Writing Contest, and the Geochang History North-South-East-West Quiz Competition.

◆ Regional Agricultural Specialty Products Exhibition and Sales

The “2026 Green Granary Geochang Agricultural Products Grand Festival” will also take place during the festival period.

Local specialty agricultural products will be displayed and sold, and the Geochang Apple and Grape Quality Evaluation will introduce local produce to visitors.

There will also be a charcoal grill section selling “Aewoo,” the Geochang premium Korean beef brand. Spaces will be provided for direct interaction between producers and consumers to facilitate the sales and marketing of regional specialty products.

◆ Programs for Children and Youth

Special programs for families, children, and young adults are also planned.

The “Kidsland Festival,” held at the gymnasium, will include digital experience and exhibition zones as well as a giant block assembly area.

Near the indoor gymnasium, a youth zone and a food truck festival will be set up, along with a Youth Day commemoration event, various celebrations, and busking performances.

At the Wicheoncheon area in front of the Geochang Intercity Bus Terminal, a water multimedia show, a flying board show, and DJ performances will be staged.

The 3rd National Geochang-gun Drone Soccer Competition will be held at the inline skating rink, including invitational matches and drone experience booths for visitors to participate in.

◆ Concerts by Artists Including Park Jihyun and H1-KEY

During the festival period, there will be Korean pop and K-POP concerts as well.

On the opening day, October 1, artists including Park Jihyun, Namgoong Jin, and Moon Yeonju will perform on stage.

On October 2, the “Geochang Citizen Singing Contest” will be held, with congratulatory performances by Yoon Yunseo and Chae Yoon.

On October 3, BBS “K-POP Concert” will broadcast a special radio show live from the festival, hosted by Park Huisoon and featuring performers such as H1-KEY, Deepflow, Lun8, S2it, Han Iseo, Kim Geon, and the AI girl group Sweeties.

On the closing day, October 4, after the closing ceremony, the LG HelloVision “Hello Concert: A Good Day” special recording will take place, featuring artists Kim Suchan, Oh Yujin, Choi Suho, Yoon Suhyun, Jadu, Jaeha, and Choi Jiye.

◆ Linking to Regional Attractions Such as Gamaksan and Changpowon

This year, Geochang County plans to promote visits to local tourist attractions in connection with “2026 Visit Geochang Year.”

During the festival, various local attractions will be featured, including the Gamaksan Star and Wind Hill Flower Star Tour, Geochang Changpowon’s “2026 Korea Geochang Garden Healing Expo,” Geochang Forest Leisure Sports Park, Suseungdae, and Anti-Aging Healing Land.

To encourage tourists to use local restaurants, traditional markets, and other businesses, the festival will also be linked with the “Splendid Geochang Half-Price Healing Trip” project.

Hongki Lee, Governor of Geochang County, stated, “We are preparing the festival so that residents can participate directly, and so visitors can experience Geochang’s culture and regional specialties. We will continue to connect the festival with local attractions to provide a diverse range of programs for our guests.”

Meanwhile, the 2026 Geochang Grand Festival will be held from October 1 to 4, centered around Geochang Sports Park and throughout the Geochang-eup area.

The Geochang Grand Festival is a comprehensive event that brings together various sectors of the region, including culture, sports, agriculture, and lifelong learning.

Whether the four days of festivities extend beyond a one-off event into sustained spending and stays at regional attractions, traditional markets, and restaurants will be a key measure of the festival’s overall impact.

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