‘Abundant Autumn Festival’ with Natural Recreation Forest

The Korea National Arboretum proposes exploring natural recreation forests in connection with regional autumn festivals.

Children are enjoying woodworking experiences at the National Heirisan Haesong Natural Recreation Forest. Provided by the National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office.

According to the Korea National Arboretum on the 11th, the ‘2023 Hongwonhang Wild Gizzard Shad and Flower Crab Festival’ will be held from the 2nd to the 17th of this month in Seocheon-gun, Chungnam Province.

This festival offers an opportunity to experience local seafood and has established itself as a representative event along the West Coast, attracting more than 200,000 visitors annually.

The Arboretum recommends that festival visitors visit the National Heirisan Haesong Recreation Forest to enjoy woodworking experiences, breathe in the phytoncide scent in the forest, and take in the surrounding scenery. Heirisan Haesong Recreation Forest is located about 30 minutes from the event site, making travel relatively convenient.

In Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, the ‘Jeongseon Arirang Festival’ will be held from the 14th to the 17th of this month. The festival has been held since 1976 to preserve and pass down Jeongseon Arirang, designated as Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province’s Intangible Cultural Property No. 1, and this year marks its 48th anniversary.

During the event, the Arboretum will offer free carbon-neutral woodworking experiences such as making necklaces, sotdae (traditional Korean wooden poles), and keychains at the National Gariwangsan Recreation Forest. Additionally, distinctive bread cutting boards, datak (traditional Korean low tables), reclining bookstands, and finished products suitable for Chuseok gifts will be available for sale.

A view of a traditional Indonesian house within the National ASEAN Natural Recreation Forest. Provided by the National Natural Recreation Forest Management Office

Near the National ASEAN Recreation Forest in Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, which is themed around traditional houses from the 10 ASEAN countries, the ‘2023 Yangju Celosia Festival’ will be held from the 24th to the 25th of this month.

In addition to the large-scale celosia colony, about 50 species of flowers including pink muhly, kochia, and gauri are expected to create a spectacular view. During the event, the National ASEAN Recreation Forest will host experiences such as making the Vietnamese traditional toy ‘Zhuon Zhuon’ and cultural activities from the 10 ASEAN countries.

In Jinan-gun, Jeonbuk Province, the nation’s only red ginseng special zone, the ‘2023 Jinan Red Ginseng Festival’ will take place from the 22nd to the 24th at the northern area of Maisan (Mai-don Theme Park).

During the festival, the Arboretum plans to provide a space at the National Unjangsan Recreation Forest to guide socially vulnerable groups (the elderly) on how to make reservations through the Forest Nadeul-e system, introduce the recreation forest, and promote forest culture programs.

Kim Myung-jong, Director of the Korea National Arboretum, said, “I hope that regional festivals, together with the National Recreation Forests, will be richer and more successful events,” and added, “The Arboretum will do its best to provide high-quality forest services linked with regional festivals to the public.”