The balmy conditions of spring will soon replace the dreadfully cold weather from the harsh winter months. Springtime picnickers are anxiously awaiting its arrival because the spring season this year is expected to arrive a little earlier. Korea’s spring temperatures range between 5 - 20℃, providing welcomingly warm weather and a host of beautiful flowers coloring the landscape.
To take part in such seasonal celebration, there are numerous festivals taking place including flower festivals and various other thematic traditional festivals including culture and sports festivals.
Spring Flower Festivals Signal the Arrival of Spring
Cherry blossoms, apricot flowers, and cornus fruit trees begin to bloom in early March when the air is still slightly chilly. Spring announces its arrival as Korea begins to blossom in yellow or white from the southern regions up through to the northern regions. The warm season also welcomes a host of festivals mid-March when the spring flowers are in full bloom, providing the ideal scenery for such a series of events.
In addition to spring flower festivals, both the butterfly festival and bamboo festival are also organized to celebrate the joys of spring.
Gwangyang Maehwa (Apricot Blossom) Festival
Launched in 1997, the festival has built on its reputation as a signature festival throughout the years. Due to the nature of the festival, that its focus is all about maehwa fruit and food made of it, the village was aptly named Maehwa Village. Especially in spring, the white maehwa blossoms blanketing 83 acres of land on Baegunsan Mountain provides onlookers with spectacular views. The festival is held when maehwa flowers are in full bloom.
Dates: March 8 ~ 16, 2008
Venue: Maehwa Village, Daap-myeon, Gwangyang, Jeollanam-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Because of its unique abundance of sansuyu, Gurye is famous for its tea, liquor, and various foods made from its source. Organized in a hot spring area in beautiful Mt. Jirisan, the festival not only offers a chance to see sansuyu flowers but also enjoy various programs such as performances, hands-on events, and fireworks.
Dates: March 13~16, 2008
Venue:Hot Springs District of Mt. Jirisan, Gurye-gun, Jeollanam-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
As Korea’s largest beotkkot festival, visitors can walk under a shower of petals along the cherry blossom tunnel. A parade in honor of General Yi Sun-shin and a military band parade mark the highlight of the festival.
Dates: March~April (TBA)
Venue: Jinhae, Gyeongsangnam-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-55-1330(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Visitors can enjoy the sansuyu parade under the 100-years old sansuyu trees, while partaking in some folk games. Be sure to take pictures while walking among the trees.
The festival is held in April in Beotkot Street in Yeoui-do when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. When about 1,400 beotkot (cherry blossom) trees start to bloom, Yunjungno Street behind the National Assembly becomes a tunnel of cherry blossoms.
Dates: April 11~20, 2008
Venue: Behind the National Assembly building & the surrounding areas of Yunjungno,Yeoui-do, Seoul
Korea Travel Phone : +82-31-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Jeju-do attracts tourists throughout the springtime from February when yuchaekot (canola flowers) start to bloom. This festival first began as a means of celebrating the flower’s beauty, which remains a local specialty product of Jeju-do, and promoting related products. It has become a major festival in Jeju, drawing throngs of tourists to Jeju every year.
Dates: March 28~30, 2008
Venue: Jeju International Convention Center, Jeju-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-64-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Damyang in Jeollanam-do Province has been so recognized for its bamboo trees that people immediately associate Damyang with bamboo. The festival originates from a local tradition in which the people held a feast featuring food and liquor made of any bamboo trees left over from planting around the area and in the mountains.
Dates: May 3~9, 2008
Venue: Around Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Walk along the lakeside and enjoy various exhibitions and concerts. You can also try bungee jumping and other leisure sports. Be sure not to miss the traditional martial arts performance held at various drama filming locations.
Dates: Mid-April (TBA)
Venue: Chungpung Cultural Property Complex, Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-43-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
Held on a 8,300-acre area in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do, the festival offers a spectacular view of tens of thousands of butterflies flying among the canola blossoms. It was selected as the Best Festival of 2008 by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
Dates: April 18~June 1, 2008
Venue: Cheonsubyeon Park, Eco-Friendly Farming Zone, Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do
Korea Travel Phone : +82-61-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
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Dates: March 8 ~ 16, 2008
