Gwangju City: "Enjoy the Golden Children's Day Holiday in Gwangju"

Circus and Magic Shows at City Hall:
A Variety of Family Experiences
Face Painting and Folk Games
at the Museum of History and Folklore
Rich Lineup of Performances and Exhibitions
at Mudeung, Sajik, and Sansu Libraries

Photos from the 2024 Children's Day event at City Hall. Provided by Gwangju City

To celebrate the 103rd Children's Day, a variety of events will be held throughout Gwangju. During the "golden holiday" period, which includes the first weekend of May (May 3-4, holidays), May 5 (Children's Day and Buddha's Birthday), and May 6 (substitute holiday for Children's Day), Gwangju will be filled with sights to see, things to enjoy, and activities to experience. Why not spend a special holiday in Gwangju?

Poster for the 103rd Children's Day event at City Hall. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City will hold a "Children's Day Event" at 9:30 a.m. on May 3 at the lawn plaza in front of City Hall (in case of rain, the event will be held in the City Hall Citizens' Hall).

This year, Children's Day coincides with Buddha's Birthday and a long holiday, so the city decided to hold the event on the first day of the holiday, May 3, to accommodate families' individual schedules. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There will be a wide range of content for the whole family to enjoy, including cultural performances and hands-on activities.

The event will feature cultural performances such as a juggling circus and an omnibus magic show, as well as a variety of hands-on programs, including "The Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed" game, a live karaoke with a DJ, children's random dance, and a gold-and-silver treasure hunt.

In particular, two large air bouncers will be set up so that children can jump and play on the lawn. There will also be booths for experiences such as nail, hair, and hat art, as well as making family photo frames and character fans. Participation in these booths is on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited capacity. At the food booths, cotton candy and popcorn will be distributed.

In the Citizens' Hall on the first floor of City Hall, there will be an exhibition of children's poetry and paintings on the theme of "Gwangju, a Child-Friendly City," and a safety experience center will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Mudeung Library Children's Day Event Poster. Provided by Gwangju City

To mark Family Month and Children's Day, the Gwangju City Public Libraries will offer a variety of cultural programs for children and families at three local libraries (Mudeung, Sansu, and Sajik) throughout May. The events include hands-on programs, performances, exhibitions, and overdue record removal events.

Mudeung Library will hold a "Decorate Your Own Marble Balloon" workshop for children on May 3 and a "Spring Picnic Lunchbox Making" activity on May 4. There will also be online exhibitions of original illustrations from the children's books "Lane No. 5" and "Long Night." Notably, during the event period, the library will offer an overdue record removal service for children with overdue accounts.

Sajik Library will offer a "Children's Day Fortune Cookie Drawing" event on May 3-4, a "Paper Flower - Carnation Making" workshop for adults on May 7, an exhibition of original illustrations from the picture book "Eyes That See the World: Maps," and an "Overdue Account Clean Day" on May 3-4. These programs are designed for the whole family to participate.

Sansu Library will offer a "Make Your Own Patch Keyring" workshop and a magic balloon show on May 4. On May 3 and 4, the library will distribute "Book Piggy Banks" and "Book Posters" for children who love books. Other activities, such as the overdue record eraser program, are planned to appeal to children.

Program registration is available in advance or on-site, depending on the library. For more details, visit the Gwangju City Public Libraries website or refer to promotional materials at each location.

Children's Day Event Poster at the Museum of History and Folklore. Provided by Gwangju City

The Gwangju Museum of History and Folklore will hold the "May Children's and Family Festival" from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on May 5 in the museum's outdoor plaza. The event will feature hands-on programs for the whole family, such as face painting, traditional folk games, and intangible cultural heritage crafts, as well as a variety of performances, including magic and balloon shows.

Main hands-on activities include bubble play, "Challenge! Five Missions" (bowling, darts, rubber shoe toss, etc.), cotton candy and popcorn giveaways, family four-cut photo booth, intangible cultural heritage experiences (najeonchiljang lacquerware, ceremonial food crafts), chalk art, face painting, and traditional folk games.

There will also be promotional booths introducing the museum's branches, such as the Sinchang-dong Mahan Heritage Experience Center and the Mudeungsan Buncheong Ware Exhibition Hall, providing an opportunity to raise citizens' interest and understanding of local cultural heritage. All citizens are welcome to participate in the hands-on activities and performances. Participation is free of charge. For inquiries, please contact the Gwangju Museum of History and Folklore.