In Autumn, Festivals Unfold in Every Village of Nowon-gu

Nowon-gu to Host '2023 Village Festivals in 19 Neighborhoods' from September 10 to October 21... Featuring Resident Participation Cultural Performances, Experience Booths, Food Markets, Bazaars, and More

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the '2023 Dong Village Festival' will be held from September 10 to October 21.

The 'Dong Village Festival,' which attracts about 20,000 participants each time, is a resident-led festival where residents autonomously plan and promote the entire preparation process, including the selection of venues and programs. Since its first introduction in 2015, it has served as a place for community harmony.

This year as well, private festival promotion committees have been formed in each dong several months in advance to prepare for the village festival. The festival promotion committees prepare various attractions, food stalls, and experience booths themed around local cultural content that reflects the unique characteristics of each dong, such as symbolism, history, and culture.

In addition, through resident participation cultural performances and talent shows linked with local community centers, welfare centers, schools, and living arts clubs, the festival plans to expand resident participation and hold various side events such as bazaars where people of all ages can come together and enjoy.

The core of this village festival is the ‘experience booths’ composed of different items for each dong. To prevent the homogenization of dong festivals and enhance the completeness of the festival, the district appointed experts in various fields such as public art, performing arts planning, and video production as ‘cultural coordinators’ (hereafter referred to as cultural coordinators) from this year and supported the festival planning of each dong’s festival promotion committee.

The district expects the village festival to be substantial through the operation of various experience booths refined by the expertise of the cultural coordinators. Representative examples include the school uniform photo studio in Wolgye 3-dong, chili paste making in Sanggye 2-dong, and small jangseung (traditional Korean totem poles) making in Sanggye 9-dong, which reflect the residents’ creative ideas.

Moreover, the district will fill various parts of the region with diverse cultural festivals to welcome the cool autumn as the heatwave subsides.

On October 14, 15, 21, and 22, the ▲Street Arts Festival will offer performances of various genres in everyday spaces, and from October 13 to November 5, the ▲Moonlight Walk will illuminate Danghyeoncheon’s autumn nights with splendid lights. Through these and other cultural events, residents will be provided with special experiences and enjoyment.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “The Dong Village Festival is a cultural festival where neighborhood neighbors gather in one place and create together,” adding, “We will do our best to ensure that the village festival becomes a place for residents’ participation, communication, and sharing.”