Daegu Chimac Festival

When the sun goes down, Duryu Park becomes a giant Chimaek party venue

Summer in Daegu has its own nickname: 'Daefrica (Daegu + Africa)'. In a city where the daytime high can climb past 36 degrees Celsius, do you really need an outdoor festival? At first I was puzzled too, but once the sun went down, everything changed completely. On the day I went, the midday heat was suffocating, but by evening, as I entered 2.28 Freedom Plaza in Duryu Park, the smell of freshly fried chicken, EDM bass, and clinking beer glasses all rushed toward me at once.

The Daegu Chimaek Festival, which began in 2013, is Daegu's signature summer festival and the country's largest food-and-drink festival combining 'chicken' and 'beer.' In 2025, it was held over five days from July 2 to 6 around Duryu Park under the theme 'Chimaek Sensation (CHIMAC SENSATION),' and it has become an event that draws over 1 million visitors every year. The main venue, 2.28 Freedom Plaza, featured a 'Water Concert' concept blending water and EDM, and for the first time in the festival's history, a 360-degree central stage was introduced, with four-sided LED screens so the stage could be seen from any direction. With more than 250 booths, whichever way you went there was always a new chicken brand and beer waiting.

Following a foreign traveler's Chimaek day

Before you go, you only need to decide two things. First, leave the car behind. Second, dress as coolly as possible. There is no separate admission fee, so you can simply walk in, but only the premium table zone in the front block of 2.28 Freedom Plaza is paid and requires advance reservation. Premium seats can be purchased in advance on Ticketlink, and the rest of the area is first-come, first-served if you find an empty spot on site.

Getting there by subway is definitely the best choice. Get off at Duryu Station on Daegu Subway Line 2 and take Exit 3; from there it is only about a 5-minute walk to the festival site. When I went, people who arrived by car were wandering around for ages looking for parking. There are several public parking lots around Duryu Park, but they are almost full during the festival period, so consider driving only if absolutely necessary.

On site, you line up at each booth, buy chicken and beer, and then find a place to sit and eat. From large beer booths like Cass to craft beer and new chicken-menu competitions, the variety is enormous, so even if you don't read the menu in English one by one, photos and gestures are enough to order. Card and mobile payment are generally accepted, but some booths are faster with cash, so bringing a bit of cash will make you feel more at ease. The heat countermeasures were impressive too. Cooling fog sprayed like mist throughout the venue, and water trucks were brought in, so it felt refreshing every time you passed by. There was also the Cheongnasae Water Cafe that gave out water for free, as well as shaded rest areas and an emergency medical station, so even in the middle of summer it was manageable.

As the evening deepens, the stage really comes alive. In 2025, the lineup started with Park Myung-soo and Chungha on the first day, followed by Kwon Eun-bi, FLESH, K2 (Kim Seong-myeon), and on the final day YB (Yoon Do-hyun Band). At Duryu Park Parking Lot No. 2, there was also a unique space called 'Chimaek the Club,' where people in horror makeup enjoyed Chimaek in an 'EDM club,' and 'Chimaek Traveler Street,' where you could get Chimaek pairing recommendations based on your personality type from an MBTI kiosk, was also fun. The return trip is important because operating hours run until around midnight, so you may worry about missing the last train. Fortunately, during the festival period, the subway last train runs later than usual, so it is a good idea to check the atmosphere around 11 p.m. and then head out.

Things you should know so you do not make a wasted trip

The first thing to prepare for is the 'crowd.' Every review mentions how many people there are. It gets much busier on weekends than on weekday evenings, so if you want to secure a relaxed spot, I recommend entering early on a weekday evening. Even two or three hours before the opening, crowds were already gathering at the entrance.

And you absolutely should not underestimate the heat. During the 2025 festival period, the average daytime high reached 36 degrees Celsius, and the event was held under a heat wave warning. Going in the evening after the sun starts to set is more realistic, and here are the things that are good to bring.

• Portable fan or handheld fan (cooling fog helps, but it is useful while waiting in line)
• A bit of cash (some booths are faster with cash)
• Comfortable sneakers (the park route is wide and you will keep walking)
• Wet wipes and tissues (essential for eating chicken)

English guidance is not very detailed, so for the more specific program schedule, you may need to follow along by intuition. That said, a global information center was operated separately for foreign visitors, so if you are confused, you can ask there. Check the official channel once for the day's performance lineup and operating hours before you go.

If you want to spend a lively summer night with friends

This festival is perfect for people who want a lively night clinking beer glasses with friends or companions rather than a quiet, contemplative trip alone. It is the place where you can experience Korean 'Chimaek' culture most intensely, together with tens of thousands of people. If you avoid the worst of the heat and arrive in the evening, you will understand with your body why Daegu's summer nights are so special.