Looking for something to do in Korea this weekend? Here are 8 festivals running at some point during Oct 17–18, 2026 — each has its own dates below — taken only from the official festival data published by the Korea Tourism Organization (TourAPI). Compare dates and locations at a glance, then check each festival’s official channel before you go.
At a glance
| Festival | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Cheongdo Seedless Persimmon Festival (청도반시축제) | Oct 16 (Fri) – Oct 18 (Sun) | 1846 Cheongnyeo-ro, Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk |
| Hurshimchung Bräu Oktoberfest (허심청브로이 옥토버페스트) | Oct 15 (Thu) – Oct 17 (Sat) | 23 Geumganggongwon-ro 20beon-gil, Dongnae-gu, Busan |
| Dongnaeeupseong History Festival (동래읍성역사축제) | Oct 16 (Fri) – Oct 18 (Sun) | 80, Munhwa-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan |
| Bonghwa Pine Mushroom Festival (봉화송이축제) | Oct 15 (Thu) – Oct 18 (Sun) | 13 Naeseong-ro 5-gil, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbu |
| Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (진주 남강유등축제) | Oct 3 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun) | 626, Namgang-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do |
| Guardians of Jinju (진주의 수호자들) | Oct 3 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun) | 287 Gangnam-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 진주성 |
| Tripitaka Koreana Cultural Festival (대장경기록문화축제) | Oct 9 (Fri) – Nov 1 (Sun) | 1160 Gayasan-ro, Gaya-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do |
| Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo (경남고성공룡세계엑스포) | Sep 22 (Tue) – Nov 1 (Sun) | 1116 Danghangman-ro, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do |
1. Cheongdo Seedless Persimmon Festival (청도반시축제)
- Dates: Oct 16 (Fri) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2026 (3 days)
- Location: 1846 Cheongnyeo-ro, Hwayang-eup, Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-54-370-6211
The Cheongdo Seedless Persimmon Festival is a regional festival held under the theme of Cheongdo Bansi, the representative agricultural specialty of Cheongdo-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Cheongdo Seedless Persimmon Festival is organized to promote the excellence of this local agricultural product and introduce its diverse uses.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
2. Hurshimchung Bräu Oktoberfest (허심청브로이 옥토버페스트)
- Dates: Oct 15 (Thu) – Oct 17 (Sat), 2026 (3 days)
- Location: 23 Geumganggongwon-ro 20beon-gil, Dongnae-gu, Busan
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-51-550-2511
Hurshimchung Bräu Oktoberfest takes place in October at the outdoor space of Hotel Nongshim in Busan. The festival aims to create a fun experience for visitors of all ages, despite the main theme of the festival being beer. Enjoy special brews made by the brewmasters of Hurshimchung, as well as the tasty foods prepared by the chefs of Hotel Nongshim while watching a range of performances.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
3. Dongnaeeupseong History Festival (동래읍성역사축제)
- Dates: Oct 16 (Fri) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2026 (3 days)
- Location: 80, Munhwa-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-51-550-4092
The Dongnaeeupseong History Festival is Dongnae-gu’s signature festival combining history education with hands-on experiences. First launched as Chungnyeolje in 1995, the festival is now celebrating its 32nd edition. Recognized as one of Korea’s leading cultural tourism festivals, it invites visitors to experience the vivid history of 1592 through immersive programs and performances.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
4. Bonghwa Pine Mushroom Festival (봉화송이축제)
- Dates: Oct 15 (Thu) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2026 (4 days)
- Location: 13 Naeseong-ro 5-gil, Bonghwa-eup, Bonghwa-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-54-674-3053
Launched in 1997, the Bonghwa Pine Mushroom Festival was held throughout Bonghwa County, centering on pine mushroom harvesting experiences, pine mushroom dish tastings, and local specialty sales. With the active participation of local residents and the widespread recognition of the excellence of the mushrooms, the festival gradually established itself as a representative autumn gourmet festival in South Korea.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
5. Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival (진주 남강유등축제)
- Dates: Oct 3 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2026 (16 days)
- Location: 626, Namgang-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-55-761-9111, 755-9111
The tradition of yudeung, or floating lanterns, dates back to the Battle of Jinjuseong Fortress, one of the three major victories of the Imjin War (Japanese invasions of Korea, 1592–1598). During the battle, lanterns were floated on the Namgang River as military signals to communicate with Righteous Army forces outside the fortress and as a means for families to exchange messages and check on one another.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
6. Guardians of Jinju (진주의 수호자들)
- Dates: Oct 3 (Sat) – Oct 18 (Sun), 2026 (16 days)
- Location: 287 Gangnam-ro, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do 진주성
- Map: Open in Google Maps
Guardians of Jinju is a mission-based tour set around Jinjuseong Fortress and the Jinju Battle History Culture Park. Participants can enjoy the content simply by accessing a web-based platform, without having to install a separate app, and move between designated locations within Jinjuseong Fortress and the Jinju Battle History Culture Park to complete missions.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
7. Tripitaka Koreana Cultural Festival (대장경기록문화축제)
- Dates: Oct 9 (Fri) – Nov 1 (Sun), 2026 (24 days)
- Location: 1160 Gayasan-ro, Gaya-myeon, Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-55-930-4696
The Tripitaka Koreana Cultural Festival showcases the cultural values of Tripitaka Koreana combined with vibrant content featuring splendid autumn flowers. Visitors can enjoy fall flowers and take part in various hands-on activities.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
8. Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo (경남고성공룡세계엑스포)
- Dates: Sep 22 (Tue) – Nov 1 (Sun), 2026 (41 days)
- Location: 1116 Danghangman-ro, Goseong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Map: Open in Google Maps
- Contact: +82-55-670-3814
Gyeongnam Goseong Dinosaur World Expo takes place in the area of Danghangpo Tourist Resort, where visitors can meet dinosaurs in many different ways. The festival operates various exhibitions and hands-on program facilities including Dinosaur Hill, Character Hall, Dinosaurs Footprint Fossil Hall, AR/VR Hall and more. Many events, activities and parades are also planned for additional fun.
— Official description, Korea Tourism Organization
Still deciding? The earliest to close on this list is Hurshimchung Bräu Oktoberfest (허심청브로이 옥토버페스트), which ends on Oct 17 (Sat), so they are easy to miss. Pick two or three from the table above by date and location first.
Before you go, check each festival’s official channel or contact number for the latest schedule — programs can change, and you will avoid a wasted trip.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI (English festival data). Photos: Korea Tourism Organization, Korea Open Government License (KOGL).
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