Seorak Cultural Festival

The 61st Seorak Cultural Festival will be held from October 2 to October 4, 2026, at Sokcho Expo Grass Plaza and the Seorak Rodeo Street area at 72 Expo-ro (Joyang-dong), Sokcho-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province. Admission is free. Although no reservation system for general festival attendance has been confirmed, the pre-event “Walking the Dalma Ridge Trail” on September 20 is limited to 500 participants and is Informationed as requiring separate registration. The 61st festival in 2026 will run from October 2 to October 4, under the theme “Seorak, Coloring Together.”

Schedule for the 61st Festival in 2026

The 61st festival in 2026 will take place from October 2 to October 4.

The Seorak Cultural Festival began with the first Seorak Festival in 1966, and 2026 marks its 61st edition. This year, the Seorak Sosa rites will be divided into the Mountain Spirit Rite, the Joint Rite of the Three Gods, the Morning Rite, and the Sending-Off Rite, with commentary and storytelling added. Regional traditional performances such as Sokcho Lion Play, Domun Nongyo, Dondollari, and Sokcho Arirang will also be included.

A report dated October 26, 2025, estimated total attendance at the Seorak Cultural Festival and related events at more than 150,000 people. This figure concerns the related events in 2025 and does not indicate the number of visitors or the crowd level expected in 2026.

From 72 Expo-ro in Sokcho to the 7 p.m. performances, plan your day-trip route separately

The main programs for 2026 are scheduled from the morning through 7 p.m. from October 2 to October 4. However, public transportation routes, temporary shuttles, and traffic-control zones and times for 2026 have not been confirmed. Enter 72 Expo-ro (Joyang-dong), Sokcho-si, Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, into your map app first before departing.

The official directions list the Expo Third Public Parking Lot and the temporary parking lot in the vacant lot opposite Wooseongok as free parking areas, but it has not been confirmed whether this will also apply in 2026. Based solely on the schedule, which places the main stage at 7 p.m., a day trip is possible. However, since last-train information has not been published, transportation home after the closing performance should be checked separately.

Separate from the festival grounds, “Dalma! Walking the Ridge Trail” is scheduled for September 20, 2026, running from Seolhyang Park via Dalmabong (635 m) to Sogongwon. The walk starts at 7:30 a.m., while the Seoraksan Concert is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on the same day, so these dates differ from the October festival-ground programs.

From the rites on October 2 to the fireworks on October 4, each day has clear highlights

On October 2, the Mountain Spirit Rite will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Seoraksan Sogongwon. At 11:30 a.m., the “Passion Stage Go!” performance by four teams from eight neighborhood clubs will take place, followed by Sokcho Lion Play Preservation Association and Domun Nongyo at 1:30 p.m., and the Joint Rite of the Three Gods at 3 p.m. After the 5 p.m. fringe performance, Yoon Soo-il and Yeom Yu-ri are scheduled to perform at the 7 p.m. opening ceremony.

On October 3, the Morning Rite is scheduled for 10 a.m., followed by Domun Nongyo, Sokcho Arirang, and a cheerful sports festival at 1 p.m.; the first and second street parades at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.; a balloon magic show at 5:30 p.m.; and “Our Stage Go!” at 6:30 p.m. The stage is scheduled to feature four middle-school teams, three high-school teams, YOUNITE, and Dodri, making it convenient to combine the parade with youth and invited performances on the same day.

At 1 p.m. on October 4, “Seorak (Rock) Star!” will be held, with 12 teams from across the country competing in the vocal and dance finals. After the Sending-Off Rite at 5 p.m., Solji, Shin Seung-tae, and Gummy are scheduled to perform at the 7 p.m. closing ceremony, followed by fireworks. Seorak Golden Bell is a quiz about Sokcho and the Seorak Cultural Festival, so understanding Korean is required. The parade, fringe performances, music performances, and fireworks are formats best enjoyed by focusing on the stage and movement.

The local culture experience zone will include approximately 25 neighborhood sections, and the experience booths and promotional hall will operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 2. The Dream Tree Playground and Moms Lounge will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 2 and 3. On October 3, cultural exchange booths from eight neighborhoods will also operate during the same hours.

The Sokcho Food Festival “Masupda! Sokcho” food zone will be held in conjunction with the festival, but the published schedule does not specify whether cards, mobile payments, or cash will be accepted in 2026, nor does it indicate the locations of restrooms or luggage-storage facilities. A children’s air-bounce playground and a Moms Lounge and nursing area for families with infants and young children have been confirmed, but English-language guidance or interpreting services have not been confirmed.

Between the Seorak Sosa rites and the fireworks, supplement English and transportation information before departing

Public information does not confirm operating, cancellation, or refund policies in case of rain in 2026, wheelchair-accessible routes, or whether foreign-language information booths and interpretation services will be available. Travelers who require English guidance or need to finalize a wheelchair route in advance may find it difficult to complete their plans using the current information alone.

Travelers seeking a quiet visit may not find the two street parades on October 3 and the 7 p.m. closing fireworks on October 4 suitable. Travelers who have difficulty returning late should check the last train or bus before attending programs after 7 p.m. Since attendance at related events in 2025 was estimated at more than 150,000, anyone wishing to avoid crowds during major performances in 2026 should decide in advance which day to choose between the parade and the closing ceremony.

Before departing, call 033-636-0670 to confirm rain-related operations, English-language guidance, wheelchair routes, and whether the parking arrangements apply. If you plan to join the Dalma Ridge Trail walk on September 20, complete the separate registration first.

• When should I go to see all four Seorak Sosa rites? — The Mountain Spirit Rite is on the morning of October 2, the Joint Rite of the Three Gods is at 3 p.m. on October 2, the Morning Rite is at 10 a.m. on October 3, and the Sending-Off Rite is at 5 p.m. on October 4.
• Is the Dalma Ridge Trail walk part of the October festival-ground events? — No. It is a pre-event starting at 7:30 a.m. on September 20, 2026. It is a 500-person walk from Seolhyang Park via Dalmabong at 635 m to Sogongwon.
• When can I use the Moms Lounge if I visit with children? — The Dream Tree Playground and the Moms Lounge and nursing area operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on October 2 and 3.
• Can I see the street parade and fireworks on the same day? — The parades are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on October 3, while the fireworks are scheduled for the 7 p.m. closing ceremony on October 4, so they are not on the same day.