Heungbu Festival

The 34th Heungbu Festival will be held at Gwanghalluwon in Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State, from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 11, 2026, with free admission. Whether advance reservations are required and where tickets can be booked have not yet been announced in the 2026 34th-edition information. While the 33rd festival in 2025 was held around Sarangui Gwangjang and the Yocheon riverside, this year’s 34th edition will be centered on Gwanghalluwon, the Yocheon riverside, and the area between Seungsagyo and Chunhyanggyo. This year’s theme is “The Heungbu Festival with Citizens and Small Business Owners,” with spaces linked to local businesses, such as Heungbu Market, K-Food Road, and Jebi Store, prominently arranged.

The 34th Heungbu Festival has shifted its focus from Sarangui Gwangjang to Gwanghalluwon and the Yocheon riverside

The 33rd festival in 2025 was held from October 17 to 19 around Sarangui Gwangjang and the Yocheon riverside, while the 34th edition in 2026 will run from October 9 to 11, centered on Gwanghalluwon, the Yocheon riverside area, and the stretch between Seungsagyo and Chunhyanggyo. Even a comparison of the listed locations shows that this year’s key route connects Gwanghalluwon with the commercial district of the old city center.

In 2025, large air bounces, straw-play activities, snack-making experiences, and children’s career experiences were offered daily from 10:00 to 18:00. In 2026, on October 9–10, KidZania with eight career experiences, 30 science-experience booths, and 10 math-experience classrooms will be operated at the southern end of Seungwolgyo along the Yocheon riverside, presenting the children’s and youth spaces in clearly numbered categories compared with the previous edition.

This year’s official theme is “善Ball成Ball: Challenge through goodwill and good deeds to achieve success.” Since the festival day of the Heungbu Festival is designated as Namwon Citizens’ Day under Namwon City ordinances, the 2026 program also includes an award ceremony for the Citizen’s Award and the Heungbu Family Award, along with spaces for small-business participation.

It takes 2 hours 10 minutes from Seoul’s Yongsan Station to Namwon Station, so a same-day trip is not feasible if you stay for the 22:00 program

It takes approximately 2 hours 10 minutes by KTX from Seoul’s Yongsan Station to Namwon Station, and shuttle buses will be available during the festival. The event address is Gwanghalluwon, 1447 Yocheon-ro, Namwon-si, Jeonbuk State, but the published information does not specify the shuttle boarding and drop-off points or operating intervals.

It takes approximately 2 hours 50 minutes by express bus from Seoul Central City to Namwon Intercity Bus Terminal. For those driving, the suggested route to Gwanghalluwon goes from Seoul via the Nonsan–Cheonan Expressway, the Iksan–Pohang Expressway, the Suncheon–Wanju Expressway, and Namwon Interchange.

On October 9, 2026, the schedule includes a 18:30 lighting ceremony and ceremony commemorating Gwanghalluwon’s designation as a National Treasure, a performance by the Namwon Municipal Nongak Troupe at 18:40, the Citizen’s Award and Heungbu Family Award ceremony at 19:00, a performance by the Namwon Municipal Arts Troupe at 19:30, and fireworks around Seungsagyo at 21:00. A media façade art project will also take place at Wanwoljeong in Gwanghalluwon every day from 19:00 to 22:00, so it is best to plan on an overnight stay rather than a same-day trip from Seoul if you want to watch the 22:00 program and return.

Visit the southern end of Seungwolgyo on October 9–10, and see the traditional martial arts program separately on October 11

On October 9–10, 2026, the southern end of Seungwolgyo along the Yocheon riverside will host eight KidZania career experiences, 30 booths for a children’s and youth science festival, and 10 math-experience classrooms. On October 11, the same location will host the Manin Mugwa Byeolsi, a traditional Joseon-era martial arts experience held in connection with Manin Chong Shrine under the Cultural Heritage Administration. A loach experience event will take place at the water facilities along the Yocheon riverside from October 9 to 11.

The experience zones operate from 10:00 to 18:00 on all three days. Heungbu’s Amusement Park’s air bounces will also operate at the southern end of Seungwolgyo along the Yocheon riverside from October 9 to 11, so families planning children’s activities should distinguish between the programs on October 9–10 and those on October 11.

The evening schedule begins on October 9 at 18:30 with the lighting ceremony at the Golden Jackpot Zone in Wolgung Square. The Wanwoljeong media façade continues from 19:00 to 22:00, and fireworks are scheduled around Seungsagyo at 21:00, making the evening of October 9 the clear choice for prioritizing nighttime scenes.

Heungbu Market will sell local agricultural and specialty products and food at Wolgung Square along the Yocheon riverside from October 9 to 11, while operating live on-site auctions. Jebi Store will sell acrylic key rings, magnets, badges, and umbrellas featuring swallows, gourds, and gourd seeds. At Nolbu Tavern in the Gyeongo Shopping District, visitors can enjoy food from local small businesses and stage performances at Wolgwang Pocha.

K-Food Road will operate in the Gyeongo Shopping District around Gwanghalluwon every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00, from October 9 through November 30. Admission is free, but individual prices for market goods, food, and merchandise, as well as whether cards and cash are accepted, have not been announced.

Schedules that require following explanations, such as KidZania, the science festival, and the math-experience classrooms, are separate from schedules focused on viewing scenes, such as the media façade and fireworks. Whether English signboards, English leaflets, or interpretation services will be available has not been announced, so visitors who need explanations in English should check with the staff at the booths on site.

Travel plans differ because of the 22:00 nighttime schedule and undisclosed convenience information

The currently published information does not separately provide the parking-lot location and fees, temporary parking arrangements, operating or cancellation criteria in rainy weather, stroller and wheelchair accessibility, or cleanliness and safety-management information. Travelers for whom these points are important should check the operating conditions before setting out rather than relying solely on free admission.

The commemorative ceremony, performances, and fireworks from 18:30 to 21:00 on the 9th, as well as the media façade from 19:00 to 22:00 every day, may not suit visitors who prefer quiet sightseeing. Those who find late returns difficult must also calculate the 22:00 schedule together with travel time to Seoul, while visitors who require English guidance should first check how on-site explanations are provided at KidZania, the science festival, and the math-experience classrooms.

Before departure, confirm advance-reservation requirements, shuttle boarding and drop-off points, parking, rainy-weather operations, and English guidance by calling the official inquiry number, 063-620-5786, and then reserve transportation.

• What can I see in one visit on the evening of October 9? — A lighting ceremony and ceremony commemorating Gwanghalluwon’s National Treasure designation at 18:30, a nongak troupe performance at 18:40, the Citizen’s Award and Heungbu Family Award ceremony at 19:00, an arts troupe performance at 19:30, and fireworks at 21:00 are scheduled.
• Are KidZania and the science festival also held on October 11? — Both events operate at the southern end of Seungwolgyo along the Yocheon riverside from October 9 to 10, while the Manin Mugwa Byeolsi is held at the same location on the 11th.
• Can I use K-Food Road on weekend nights? — K-Food Road operates every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 to 22:00 in the Gyeongo Shopping District around Gwanghalluwon.
• Can I return to Seoul after watching the media façade? — The media façade ends at 22:00 every day, and a one-way KTX trip from Seoul’s Yongsan Station to Namwon Station takes approximately 2 hours 10 minutes, so it is best to plan a same-day trip from Seoul as infeasible.