Hongcheon River Starry Night Music Beer Festival

A summer night beer festival in a riverside village next to a beer factory

Hongcheon is a riverside town in Gangwon-do, about an hour and a half by car from Seoul. Every year in late July, this quiet neighborhood fills with the sound of clinking beer glasses because of the Hongcheongang Starlight Music Beer Festival. Hongcheon is home to the HiteJinro Gangwon factory, the largest of its kind in Asia, so the key appeal of this festival is that you can drink freshly produced draft beer right here. On top of that, distinctive beers made by local craft breweries in Hongcheon gather in one place, making this a stop beer lovers simply cannot pass by.

The festival stage is set in Ttorisup, the Urban Forest Park right next to the Hongcheon River. With broad grassy fields and cool river breezes, it becomes quite bearable in the evening even amid the late-July heat. The edition I attended began with an eve-of-festival event in the downtown area on the first day, then moved to Ttorisup the next day for a four-day run. The operating hours are usually from 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM, but they vary a little by program, so if there is a performance you want to see, it is best to check the schedule in advance. And one especially welcome piece of news: admission is free. Since there is no entrance fee, you can stroll around without any burden.

Arrive around sunset and have a beer under the stars

This festival belongs to the night. So there is no need to arrive under the blazing midday sun; I went into Ttorisup around 5:00 PM. The first thing I did was get a beer cup. They use a reusable LED cup, and it is an eco-friendly festival that encourages the use of reusable containers through an all-you-can-drink LED cup beer event, so it is fun to carry one cup and move from booth to booth while drinking. Payment can vary by booth, so bringing a little cash makes things easier.

If you only drink beer, you will get tipsy quickly, so you should also make sure to get some hearty snacks. There were 21 snack-selling booths, including food trucks, run by Hongcheon residents, and what is interesting is that the foundation and the vendors coordinated menus and fair prices in advance, allowing visitors to enjoy a variety of snacks without worrying about being overcharged. I was worried festival food would be expensive, but that turned out not to be an issue.

As it gets dark, the stage really heats up. Participation events such as a "fast beer drinking" contest and a "random dance play" hosted by a famous BJ were held day after day, and the Tori Club DJ performances, featuring DJs and dance teams, filled the night with passion. And the signature highlight of this festival is the World Wet Dance competition held on the water, a highlight that livens things up with a variety of performances on the water. For families, the water zone is also not to be missed. Adults dip their feet in the river, enjoy a cool beer and conversation, while children have fun playing in the water, making it popular across all generations.

When the night grows deep and all the performances are over, there is still one last show left. The drone light show that premiered in the edition I saw was the festival's crowning moment; more than 1,000 drones formed new shapes at an altitude of 160 meters above the Hongcheon River, painting the night sky and leaving us in awe. Sitting on the grass with a beer in hand and watching the picture of light unfold overhead makes it clear why the word 'starlight' is in the festival's name.

If you came by car, remember the shuttle bus

The most practical concern at a beer festival is: 'If you drink, how do you get back?' The organizers paid close attention to this and operate shuttle buses regularly linking the Hongcheon Riverside Parking Lot and the Hongcheon Culture and Arts Center Parking Lot, helping reduce traffic congestion and support a safe return home. If you plan to drink, the right choice is to park your car at an outer lot and take the shuttle. Drunk driving is absolutely not okay. There was also a small gift for public transit users. While shuttle buses ran regularly, those using public transportation received the festival mascot and an LED badge.

There are a few more things worth bringing. Hongcheon in late July is really hot. During the day, bring a parasol or hat; at night, bring a light jacket for the river breeze; and if you plan to sit on the grass, a picnic mat will be helpful. If you plan to play in the water zone, pack a change of clothes and a towel. English guidance may not be sufficient, so installing a translation app in advance will help when ordering at booths. In fact, the combination of beer, music, and water play is enough to enjoy the atmosphere even if you do not speak much. I felt reassured about safety too, because with visitor safety as the top priority in the heat, the Hongcheon Fire Station, Police Station, and volunteer firefighters continuously inspected the venue.

Beer, music, and water play all in one — highly recommended for these people

If you love cold beer and want to spend summer nights with music and live performances, there is no reason to hesitate. Admission is free, so it is easy on the wallet, and thanks to the riverside water zone and drone show, there is plenty to enjoy even for families who do not drink. One thing to note: public transportation in Hongcheon is not as dense as in Seoul, so it is a good idea to check the timetable in advance. Still, that night sitting on the grass by the river breeze, beer in hand, looking up at the drone show overhead will surely remain a special memory for anyone who wants to truly feel a Korean summer.