Yangpyeong Watermelon Festival

Head to Yangpyeong Cheongun-myeon for a summer getaway in the metropolitan area, with nothing but watermelons

In Korea, the quintessential summer fruit is definitely the watermelon. But there is a place where the whole village throws a festival around that one fruit alone. It is the Yangpyeong Watermelon Festival held in Cheongun-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do. It first opened on July 5-6, 2025, around Cheongun Yongdu Market, and drew more than 50,000 visitors over two days, showing huge crowds even from its first edition. I, too, thought, "It will just be a small rural festival opening for the second time," but after actually going, my impression changed completely.

The festival name is fun. It is called the "3W Festival," and it takes the initials of sweet Watermelon, refreshing Water play, and healthy Wellness agricultural specialties. Cheongun-myeon is a neighborhood where about 150 farms grow "clean-water Yangpyeong watermelons," so the pride of this festival is that watermelons grown in the mountain village with a big day-night temperature gap have high sugar content and a crisp texture. So the appeal was not just watching stage performances, but a festival where you could buy watermelon, crack it open and eat it right there, and even play in the water with kids—a true eat-and-play event.

Admission is 0 won, but there are still a few things worth deciding in advance

First, the reassuring news: admission is free. Anyone can enter without booking a separate ticket, so foreign travelers will not get stuck at the entrance. However, if your goal is to buy watermelon at a bargain price, the story changes a bit. The pre-sale watermelons sold by Cheongun Agricultural Cooperative are guaranteed to be at least 10 kg, premium grade, and at least 11 Brix in sweetness, and the price is 17,000 won, much cheaper than the market. The quantity is limited, though, so once it is sold out, it is gone. If you are aiming for one, it is safer to place an order in advance on the official website. Pre-purchased watermelons are picked up at the Cheongun Agricultural Cooperative booth at the festival site.

For clothing, dress as if it were the height of summer. The first weekend of July is in an area with not much shade around the market, so a hat, sunscreen, and water are essential. Especially if you are with children, you will not be able to pass by the water play zone, but the water play equipment is for children up to lower elementary school age, and you must bring a change of clothes and a towel yourself. They are not rented on site, so it is best to pack them in a small backpack in advance.

A foreign traveler's day — from arrival to heading home

Honestly, transportation is the biggest hurdle of this festival. Cheongun-myeon is in the northeastern mountains of Yangpyeong, so there is no nearby subway station. If you have a car or a rental car, that is the most convenient option. By public transportation, it is best to plan in advance to come by train toward Yangpyeong or Yongmun and then transfer to a local bus or taxi. In a navigation app such as Naver Map or KakaoMap, pin "Cheongun Yongdu Market" or "Cheongun-myeon Office" and be sure to check the bus schedule for the day. Country buses run infrequently, so it is a relief to check the last bus back as soon as you arrive.

Once you enter the venue, the area is divided into the watermelon zone, water play zone, wellness zone (agricultural specialties), and food zone, making the flow easy to follow. The English signage is not especially dense, but since this is really a festival for choosing, eating, and enjoying watermelon, you do not need much language. Pointing and smiling seemed to work just fine. I first bought a freshly harvested watermelon in the watermelon zone, tried a slice at the tasting corner, looked around the local produce in the wellness zone, and then had lunch in the food zone. Payment may differ by booth, so bringing a bit of cash will keep you from being caught off guard.

Hands-on activities and performances that keep both kids and adults busy

The real charm of this festival is that it is participatory. The stage runs all day with a watermelon carving contest to showcase slicing skills, an impromptu watermelon eating contest, and even a watermelon song festival where contestants from all over the country compete in singing. During the first event, a flash mob followed the opening ceremony, and in the evening there was a watermelon judging contest featuring produce from local farms and a celebratory performance by singers. It was also linked with the "Stepping Stone Film Festival," which screened independent films together, so the atmosphere changed from lively during the day to a slightly romantic mood at night.

The programs for children were also well-rounded. Water play for kids was basic, and there were hands-on activities scattered everywhere such as face painting, nail art, making watermelon hats, and watermelon bowling, so the children's hands never had a chance to rest. I immediately understood on site why there were so many family tourists.

So who is it recommended for?

If you want to avoid the busiest times, I recommend arriving early in the morning and starting with the watermelon zone. At midday, competition for shaded seats is fierce, and the water play zone gets crowded as well. In short, the Yangpyeong Watermelon Festival is a great fit for families with young children and for travelers who want to experience a simple Korean rural festival firsthand. It is different in tone from flashy city festivals, but the experience of cracking open a freshly picked watermelon right there and mingling with local residents is something you can only do here. The second edition in 2026 is scheduled for July 4-5, so if you are planning a summer trip to Yangpyeong, try slipping it into your itinerary.