Bulamsan Azalea Festival, Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Trail Coffee Festival, and Nowon-gu's Successful First Half Festival... Cultural City Nowon Certified as 'Kkuljaem'... Larger Scale and Richer Content Establish Nowon-gu's Signature Events
Ensured Safety, Order, and Convenience Despite 80,000 Visitors Over Two Days
Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that the '2nd Nowon Craft Beer Festival,' held over two days from the 25th to the 26th at Hwarangdae Railroad Park, successfully concluded.
The district noted that the 'Nowon Craft Beer Festival,' one of Nowon-gu's five major festivals, followed the great success of the 'Bulamsan Azalea Festival' in April and the 'Gyeongchun Line Gongneung Forest Coffee Festival' in May, raising expectations for the successful hosting of festivals in the second half of the year as well as a growing sense of pride in the rising status of 'Cultural City Nowon.'
The festival, held at Hwarangdae Railroad Park, which was selected as one of the Local 100 (Top 100 Regional Cultural Attractions) by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, attracted over 30 breweries from across the country. Despite rain on the second day, the organizers estimate that about 80,000 people participated over the two days.
For this festival, the district and the Nowon Cultural Foundation collaborated early on with local craft beer breweries such as 'Baneheim' and the 'Nowon Craft Beer Cooperative,' along with local merchants and youth, engaging in meticulous planning. Building on the first festival held last year and reflecting on areas for improvement, this year’s event was evaluated as a more complete and refined festival.
Expanded Scale to Accommodate More Diverse Tastes
The most noticeable change was the significantly expanded festival grounds. With cooperation from the Korea Military Academy, the waterside park in front of Hwarang Hall was opened, dividing the space into three plazas. The enlarged area allowed for a variety of concepts and tastes to be uniquely reflected.
The 1st Plaza (from Nowon Train Village front to the parking lot) offered the most immersive experience for enjoying the festival and performances; the 2nd Plaza (center of the Railroad Park around the Light Garden) hosted craft beer and brand fairs along with various other contents; and the 3rd Plaza (waterside park in front of Hwarang Hall) provided a spacious grassy area where families with young children and those with pets could relax comfortably like a picnic. Each plaza created a distinct atmosphere, enhancing the charm of the Railroad Park.
The core of the festival, craft beer, featured 200 varieties?an increase from last year?with participation from over 30 breweries nationwide.
This year’s performances became more diverse with appearances by Crying Nut, No Brain, Daybreak, and Ji Se-hee. Including an EDM DJ show, 15 invited acts performed on the main stage at the 1st Plaza and the small stage at the 3rd Plaza, with real-time live broadcasts allowing attendees to enjoy the main stage performances simultaneously.
Improved Convenience and Order
The only regret from last year’s festival was managing the congestion caused by the large crowds. This year, issues such as adult verification for alcohol purchases, bottlenecks during beer ordering, and long wait times were thoroughly resolved.
Along with the expanded festival grounds, adult verification booths and collection points for reusable containers and waste were appropriately placed in each plaza, greatly improving convenience and maintaining order. During the event, the road in front of the Korea Military Academy main gate was completely closed to vehicle traffic, operating as a 'car-free street' to prevent safety accidents.
An Event Finding Meaning Together with Local Residents
The district encouraged participation from local merchants and youth, not only revitalizing the local commercial area but also establishing a new model of a 'community-collaborative' festival.
Moreover, consideration was given to ensure that people of all ages and genders could enjoy the festival. Separate spaces were created to meet the needs of families with pets and young children, and 15 visually impaired individuals were invited to safely enjoy the charm of craft beer at the venue with guidance from beer docents.
To minimize greenhouse gas emissions, a carbon emission checklist was reviewed and on-site evaluations were conducted. During the event, 40,000 cups and 10,000 bowls were made as reusable items to suppress the use of disposable products as much as possible, practicing 'carbon neutrality' together with the residents.
A resident of Gongneung-dong who participated in the event expressed satisfaction, saying, “With attractions like Railroad Park and Gongridan-gil emerging, the daily lives of residents have become much more beautiful. It makes me proud and delighted as a local resident to see so many people from other areas come and enjoy together.”
Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “I am pleased that the consecutive great successes of the festivals have certified our ability to plan and manage large-scale cultural festivals. As residents’ expectations for experiencing Cultural City Nowon rise, I want to showcase Nowon’s charm abundantly through even more fun and splendid cultural festivals.”
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