[Feature] Gyeonggi, the Capital of Festivals: Where to Enjoy Spring Outings with the Whole Family in May?

Goyang International Flower Expo: A 280,000m² Sea of Blossoms at Lake Park
Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival: "Primitive Culture Reaching Out to the World"
Opening of Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge: Emerging as the Center of Eastern Gyeonggi Tourism
Guri Canola Flower Festival: Waves of Spring Color Along the Han River

In celebration of Family Month in May, the entire Gyeonggi Province is awash with vibrant spring festivals. From the Goyang International Flower Expo to the Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival, the opening of the Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge, and the Guri Canola Flower Festival, each region is drawing springtime visitors with complex cultural festivals that blend local nature, history, and tourism resources.

Citizens are bustling at the 2025 Goyang International Flower Expo held at Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang City. Provided by Goyang Special City

▧Goyang International Flower Expo: A 280,000m² Sea of Blossoms at Lake Park

The "2025 Goyang International Flower Expo" is being held at Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang Special City until May 11. The venue is covered with 100 million flowers, creating a spectacular scene, and features customized performances and hands-on programs targeting Children's Day and Parents' Day.

At the themed plaza, "Dreaming Garden," visitors are first greeted by the main installation, the "Golden Panda." Surrounding the Golden Panda, which spreads the energy of flowers, are butterflies and various sculptures, as well as a bee ecosystem complete with a honey fountain, honeycomb panels, and a honey-themed photo zone. The "Dreaming Garden" features the Golden Panda sculpture, standing 10 meters tall and 10 meters wide, as the main photo zone.

The outdoor exhibition area is organized into a trilogy: "Culture Conveyed by the Fragrance of Flowers," "Imaginary Gardens Interacting with Flowers," and "Expansion Toward a Sustainable World." Under these themes, more than 20 outdoor gardens, including 9 main gardens, welcome visitors.

For families with children, the colorful Tinyping Garden at Hanul Plaza is recommended. Here, visitors can take photos with character sculptures from the popular animation "Catch! Tinyping." Other highlights include the "Goyang Citizen Garden Show," which involves local citizen gardeners, the fairy tale-themed "Garden of Flowers and Fantasy," and the wedding-themed photo zone "Everyday Imagination Garden."

Roses, known as the "Queen of May," fill the Rose Garden. Over 24,000 roses from about 40 varieties, including Landora, Louis de Fun?s, and Schwarz Madonna, have been forced to bloom in advance in greenhouses, resulting in a lush display.

Meanwhile, at the "Hydrangea Garden," filled with vibrant hydrangeas, visitors can also appreciate works by 50 sculptors from Goyang City.

Photo zones blending flowers and the lake are gaining popularity with various concepts.

In the fairy tale-themed "Garden of Flowers and Fantasy" and the outdoor wedding-themed "Everyday Imagination Garden," visitors can take stunning photos for their social media.

The "Garden of Flower Light, Water Light, and Sunset Light," themed around the three colors of Ilsan Lake Park, offers unique photo zones with different sculptures and aerial floral decorations.

The indoor exhibition halls consist of the Floriculture Industry Hall and the Floriculture Exchange Hall, showcasing unique plants such as Indonesian carnivorous plants, Colombian rainbow roses, and glowing roses, as well as over 100 new varieties from around the world. In particular, the 20-meter-high vertical garden and the tropical rainforest-themed "Breathing Indoor Garden" are expected to attract much attention from visitors.

Additional events include the "Goyang Flower Market" featuring local flower farms, water bicycle experiences, and a trot concert for Parents' Day, providing a wealth of activities for family visitors. Indoor exhibitions can be enjoyed regardless of rain or inclement weather.

Citizens are enjoying the "2025 32nd Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival" held on the 2nd at the Jeongok-ri archaeological site area in Yeoncheon County. Provided by Yeoncheon County

▧Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival: "Primitive Culture Reaching Out to the World"

The 32nd Paleolithic Festival is being held at the Jeongok-ri archaeological site in Yeoncheon County until May 5. Under the theme "Hello? Jeongok!" this year's festival offers a variety of programs that allow visitors to experience Paleolithic life and culture firsthand, providing a unique historical experience.

At the "World Paleolithic Experience Plaza," where countries with strong prehistoric cultures such as France, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan are participating, visitors can try making primitive tools, enjoy barbecues, and experience Paleolithic costumes.

From the opening day, the festival grounds have been packed with visitors from across the country, enjoying the clear weather. The opening ceremony was followed by a wide range of activities, performances, and exhibitions, filling the venue with excitement.

Of particular note, the international academic seminar held on May 2 drew significant attention as a stepping stone toward the "2029 Yeoncheon World Paleolithic Expo."

The seminar featured in-depth discussions on: ▲cases of utilizing overseas cultural heritage, ▲development directions for the Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival, ▲strategies for attracting the Expo, and ▲proposals for UNESCO World Heritage listing. Domestic and international experts highly evaluated the historical value and global potential of the Jeongok-ri site, suggesting the possibility of developing it into an international event.

This year's festival offers a variety of hands-on programs for the whole family, including: ▲World Paleolithic Experience, ▲Paleolithic Barbecue, ▲Jeongokrian Costume Room, and ▲Character Collage. The "World Paleolithic Experience Plaza," with participation from France, Germany, Japan, and Taiwan, is especially popular for allowing visitors to directly experience various aspects of primitive life and culture.

On the evening of the final day, May 5, the "2029 Expo Proclamation Ceremony" and a drone fireworks show will provide visitors with an unforgettable experience.

Admission is 7,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for children, with local currency rewards of 5,000 won for adults and 3,000 won for children. Tickets can be purchased in advance via Ticketlink and Naver Reservation or on-site. Yeoncheon residents, those aged 65 and over, people with disabilities, and infants under 36 months accompanied by a guardian are eligible for free admission.

Kim Deokhyeon, Mayor of Yeoncheon County, stated, "This year's Paleolithic Festival marks a starting point for transforming from a simple cultural tourism festival into an international event seeking solidarity with global Paleolithic culture. I hope many people will experience the value of the Jeongok-ri site firsthand and envision Yeoncheon's future together."

Temporary parking lots have been set up around the venue, and a free shuttle bus is operating between Jeongok Station and the festival site.

Citizens are walking on the 'Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge' which opened on the 1st. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

▧Opening of Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge: Emerging as the Center of Eastern Gyeonggi Tourism

On May 1, Yeoju City officially opened the "Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge," a pedestrian-only suspension bridge spanning 515 meters in length and 2.5 meters in width across the Namhangang River. Connecting the Silleuksa Tourist Site and Geumeunmorae Recreation Area, this bridge is a key achievement of the "Gyeonggi-do Regional Balanced Development Project," and has attracted a steady stream of tourists since its opening.

This project was promoted as a flagship initiative under the "Gyeonggi-do Regional Balanced Development Project," with a total of 33.2 billion won in city and provincial funds invested in Yeoju City. Since 2015, Gyeonggi Province has been implementing balanced development projects in six underdeveloped northern and eastern regions?Yeoncheon, Gapyeong, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Pocheon, and Dongducheon?investing a total of 868.6 billion won in the first and second phases to date.

Yeoju City has declared 2025 as the "Year of Yeoju Tourism" in conjunction with the bridge opening, launching full-scale efforts to foster the local tourism industry. The city plans to enhance its competitiveness as a stay-type tourist destination by creating a "tourism belt" that links major attractions such as the Ceramic Festival, Silleuksa, museums, and the Geumeunmorae campsite, all centered around the suspension bridge.

The opening of the "Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge" is expected to be not only an expansion of tourism infrastructure, but also a milestone in the balanced development of eastern Gyeonggi and a turning point in Yeoju's tourism strategy. Through the tourism belt connecting the Namhangang Suspension Bridge, Ceramic Festival, Silleuksa, museums, and Geumeunmorae campsite, the city anticipates attracting both domestic and international tourists and creating new opportunities for visits to Yeoju.

Lee Gyesam, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Balanced Development Planning Office, said, "The Yeoju Namhangang Suspension Bridge is a symbolic achievement of the Gyeonggi-do Regional Balanced Development Project and demonstrates new possibilities for tourism in Yeoju. The province will actively pursue the upcoming third phase of the balanced development project, implement systematic, region-specific balanced development policies, and build a sustainable growth foundation for the northern and eastern regions of Gyeonggi."

'2025 Guri Canola Flower Festival' poster. Provided by Guri City

▧Guri Canola Flower Festival: Waves of Spring Color Along the Han River

Guri City will host the "2025 Guri Canola Flower Festival" for three days from May 9 to May 11. The canola flower field, covering approximately 67,600 square meters in the Guri Hangang Citizens Park area, creates a spectacular scene, with a variety of events including family-friendly activities, performances by popular singers, and a food market.

As a festival popular among families, couples, and people of all ages in the metropolitan area, the event features not only the canola flower field but also performances by popular singers, family-oriented activities, and a food market, all meticulously prepared.

At the eve celebration on May 9, held at the special stage in the lawn plaza, singers Ali and Jung Dongha will perform. The opening ceremony on May 10 will feature singers My Jin, An Seunghun, and December, while the closing ceremony on May 11 will include performances by Lee Chanwon, Park Hyeshin, and Park Gun.

To entertain children and couples visiting the festival, a drone show is scheduled for the first day and a large-scale fireworks display for the final day.

During the festival, various side events will be held, including the "One Mind Dementia Overcoming Walk," the National Student Art Contest, the "Chun" special exhibition, and a three-day stamp tour.

For visitor convenience, eight village bus lines?numbers 2, 3, 5, 6, 6-1, 7, and 8?will extend their routes to Guri Hangang Citizens Park during the festival, and temporary parking lots will be available at the baseball stadium and under the Godeok-Topyeong Bridge, in addition to the existing parking lots 1 and 2.

A Guri City official stated, "For the three days of the festival, we will deploy 251 staff members to manage facilities, maintain restroom cleanliness, and ensure orderly parking, striving for smooth overall operations. We hope that the programs we have prepared?centered on canola flowers, various spring blooms, hands-on activities, and performances?will create special spring memories for all visitors."