200 Types of Craft Beer and Crying Nut... The 2nd Nowon Craft Beer Festival (NBF) Held

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Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold the "2nd Nowon Craft Beer Festival" at Hwarangdae Railroad Park from the 25th to the 26th.

About 30 famous breweries nationwide, including local craft beer breweries represented by ‘Vaneheim’ and the ‘Nowon Craft Beer Cooperative,’ will participate, offering a feast of over 200 types of beer.

The Nowon Craft Beer Festival, the first of its kind among various craft beer festivals across the country, will be held at Hwarangdae Railroad Park, which was selected as one of the Local 100 (Top 100 Local Cultural Attractions) by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The operating hours are from 1 PM to 10 PM on the 25th, and from 1 PM to 9 PM on the 26th. Building on the popularity of the first festival last year, the scale and content of the festival have been greatly expanded.

The festival is divided into three main zones, each designed to be enjoyed according to different concepts and preferences.

First is the 1st Plaza, centered around Nowon Train Village and the Hwarangdae Railroad Park parking lot. Approximately 12 brewery booths and 11 food trucks will be set up in front of Train Village, while the parking lot will feature the main stage and an artificial turf zone. Over the two days, the main stage will host performances by famous bands and singers such as Crying Nut, No Brain, Ji Se-hee, and Daybreak, adding dynamic youthful energy to the event.

The 2nd Plaza is located in the heart of Hwarangdae Railroad Park, around the Bulbit Garden area. At Bulbit Garden, a beer bar featuring ‘Vaneheim,’ a first-generation craft beer brewery, and the ‘Nowon Craft Beer Cooperative,’ representing Nowon, will be set up. Additionally, a snack bar operated by merchants from Sanggye Central Market and Gongneung Goblin Market Merchants Association will offer simple food and craft beer in a pop-up bar format. A children’s beverage booth is also prepared for families with children.

More than 30 sets of wooden tables will be installed to fully enjoy the charm of Hwarangdae Railroad Park, and on the old train tracks, a brand fair featuring over 40 specialized local businesses offering various desserts and crafts will take place.

The newly expanded event area this year is the 3rd Plaza, located at the waterfront park in front of Hwarang Hall. Opened for the first time to the festival with the cooperation of the Korea Military Academy, this spacious grassy area will feature large shade tents and an emotional concept rest area, creating a relaxed picnic atmosphere. Notably, a temporary dog playground will be installed here, allowing families with pets or children to enjoy weekend outings.

The district carefully reviewed residents’ movement patterns and diverse preferences based on feedback from the first festival, focusing on diversifying content and improving convenience this year. To resolve bottlenecks occurring after ordering beer at booths, a waiting system developed by a local youth venture company will be introduced. Adult verification booths for alcohol purchases will also be installed in each plaza to ensure smooth flow.

Additionally, to minimize greenhouse gas emissions, the district will conduct carbon emission checklist inspections and on-site evaluations, producing 40,000 cups and 10,000 bowls as reusable containers and placing collection points at each location.

For residents’ safety, the road in front of the Korea Military Academy main gate will be operated as a ‘car-free street’ during the event days. This area will house the general information center, medical booths, and rest areas for the disabled and elderly, serving as the event’s control tower.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “As this festival has been steadily researched and planned over several years, the enthusiastic response from residents has motivated us to prepare an even richer event this year,” adding, “We will create a festival that satisfies everyone who appreciates the charm of Hwarangdae Railroad Park, the taste of craft beer, and the excitement of music.”