Yangju to Open the 7th Ten Million Globe Amaranth Festival on the 26th
Yangju Globe Amaranth Festival Rises as a Leading Autumn Event in the Capital Region
"A Story of Seven Colors Continuing for a Thousand Days" ? Citizens Take Center Stage
A Festival Supporting the Local Economy with the Introduction of the "Nari Coupon" System
As autumn approaches, Nari Farm in Yangju is once again transformed by ten million globe amaranths. Under the early autumn sunlight, the crimson and magenta waves of globe amaranth fields create a breathtaking spectacle, captivating visitors.
From September 26 to 28, Nari Farm in Yangju will host the 7th Ten Million Globe Amaranth Festival, immersing visitors in the essence of autumn.
This year's festival slogan is "A Story of Seven Colors Continuing for a Thousand Days." The event promises citizens and tourists "the lyrical beauty of autumn, where flowers and art harmonize."
The festival opens with a flower parade created by citizens. More than 400 participants, including residents from 12 eup, myeon, and dong districts and professional parade performance teams, will march approximately 2 kilometers from the Goeup downtown area to the Nari Farm observatory.
Parade cars decorated with flowers, marching bands, and traditional kite performances come together to elevate the festival's excitement, while the Yangju City Arts Troupe welcomes visitors with performances along the parade route.
The symphony orchestra will greet citizens in the Goeup downtown area, while the choir will perform at the observatory, demonstrating that the parade is more than a simple march-it is a citizen-led cultural festival that combines music and art.
During the opening ceremony, EG Musical Company will deliver the main performance, and singer Ali will give a celebratory performance, marking the grand start. This is the moment when Nari Farm is filled with vibrant flowers and music.
On the second day, a variety of performances themed around youth and creativity will take place. The flower fashion show, featuring university students and citizen models, will blur the boundaries between flowers, fashion, and art, presenting a stage with a fresh perspective.
Additionally, to encourage participation from younger generations and raise the festival's national profile, the 2nd Yangju National Busking Championship finals will be held on the main stage on September 27. Hosted by MC Yang Sangguk, six teams that have advanced through the preliminary and final rounds will compete across various music genres. There will also be celebratory performances by groups popular among young people, including Rolling Quartz, Homideul, Dominoboys, and Deepki.
The final day of the festival will feature a "healing" concert, with trot singers Kim Junsu, Yoon Junhyeop, Seongri, Byul Sarang, Lee Suyeon, and the B-boy dance team E8 performing at the Globe Amaranth Healing Concert, offering a lineup that spans generations.
This year, instead of the citizen singing contest, the city has prepared a stage that combines popularity and buzz, aiming to attract not only local residents but also outside tourists, thereby expanding the festival's reach.
This year's festival venue welcomes visitors with even more diverse hands-on programs. At the Globe Amaranth Pop-up Zone, free activities such as photo booth shots, face painting, dried flower making, tarot readings, and personal color analysis are offered, allowing visitors to create their own festival memories as active participants.
Additionally, booths themed around the seven colors and meanings of globe amaranth have transformed the festival grounds into a giant gallery. Spaces themed "passion" in red, "sweetness" in pink, "elegance" in purple, and "purity" in white welcome visitors throughout the venue.
The food zone, featuring 15 organizations offering local specialties, has adjusted prices reasonably through prior consultations. A meal enjoyed by visitors after strolling through the flower fields of Nari Farm has become another highlight of the festival.
This year's festival is linked to the local economy by refunding the entire admission fee as "Nari Coupons," which can be used like cash at over 200 stores in the Goeup shopping district and at booths within the festival grounds.
In response to concerns about a decline in visitors due to last year's admission fee increase, the city aims to reduce the burden with "refundable tickets" while simultaneously revitalizing the local economy. This creates a virtuous cycle where not only local residents but also outside tourists naturally visit the shopping district, connecting the festival and the local economy.
The city has paid special attention to festival safety and convenience, providing a total of 1,610 parking spaces and operating a shuttle bus between Yangju Station and Nari Farm. The festival grounds are equipped with a comprehensive information center, emergency medical booth, lost child center, stroller and wheelchair rentals, nursing rooms, ATMs, and other amenities. A total of 590 staff members are assigned to traffic control, environmental maintenance, booth support, and safety management. Medical personnel and ambulances are on standby at all times in case of emergencies, and the city has completed a safety management plan review and secured festival insurance.
This year's festival is committed to eco-friendly operations. To reduce single-use items at food booths, about 30,000 reusable containers have been introduced, and strict recycling measures are in place to minimize waste. The city has designed the event to promote environmental protection in partnership with citizens.
With the reopening of the Gyoe Line, the city is collaborating with KORAIL Tourism Development to offer a Yangju City Tour package connected to the Gyoe Line. During the festival, on September 27 and 28, a "Museum Tour" day course will be available, passing through the Jang Ukjin and Min Bokjin Art Museums and the Hoeamsa Temple Site Museum, allowing festival visitors to experience local cultural assets as well. This is a strategic effort to shift from simple day trips to extended stays.
The Yangju Globe Amaranth Festival goes beyond simply showcasing flower fields. Through voluntary citizen participation, collaboration with local businesses, and safe, convenient operations, it presents a sustainable festival model.
As a representative tourism festival of Gyeonggi Province in 2025, the 7th edition is expected to enhance Yangju's city brand value and firmly establish itself as a leading autumn festival in the metropolitan area.
Yangju Mayor Kang Suhyeon stated, "The festival began with the desire to promote Yangju through flowers together with our citizens, and it has grown into a representative tourism festival of Gyeonggi Province, attracting many visitors from across the country. The fact that this festival has been created together with citizens over the past seven years makes it all the more special, and it is a valuable achievement that raises Yangju's brand value."
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