2026 Jirisan Walking Festival 'Jirisan Picnic'
Oct 24, 2026 · Gyeongsangnam-do
Overview
'Jirisan Picnic' is a walking event on the Jirisan Dullegil (Jirisan Round Trail) that began in 2011 to build a culture of reflective walking in Jirisan. Held in rotation across the five cities and counties surrounding Jirisan—Namwon, Hamyang, Sancheong, Hadong, and Gurye—the event offers a chance to meet Jirisan's nature, local culture, and people through walking. The 2026 event will be held in Sancheong, running a roughly 12km course that starts at Sancheong Gunmin Neighborhood Park, passes Seonnyeotang and Hanbat Village, continues on to lunch in Sancheong-eup, passes Hwanajeong, and returns to Sancheong Gunmin Neighborhood Park. Experience programs and events will be set up along the walking course, and after the walk, a picnic market and cultural performances will continue at Sancheong Gunmin Neighborhood Park. The market will feature food and crafts run by local sellers, and participants will receive a souvenir along with a 10,000 KRW Sancheong Sarang gift certificate that can be used in Sancheong-eup.
Why go
Jirisan Picnic is a community walking festival on the Jirisan Dullegil (Jirisan Round Trail), rotating each year among the five surrounding counties; the 2026 edition is hosted in Sancheong with a roughly 12km route through Seonnyeotang, Hanbat Village, and Hwanajeong. It combines a guided walk with a post-walk picnic market and cultural performances, offering a low-key way to experience Jirisan's scenery and local village life.
Getting there from Seoul
Sancheong-gun has no direct KTX station, so the usual route is KTX to Jinju followed by a local bus or taxi onward to Sancheong-eup. Alternatively, express buses run from Seoul's Nambu Bus Terminal directly to the Sancheong bus terminal, a journey of roughly 3.5 to 4 hours depending on traffic and schedule.
Tips
- The course is about 12km, so wear broken-in walking shoes and dress in layers for late-October mountain weather.
- Lunch is included along the route in Sancheong-eup, but bring water and snacks for the rest of the walk.
- The 10,000 KRW Sancheong Sarang gift certificate given to participants can only be spent in Sancheong-eup, so plan to use it before leaving town.
Best for: hikers, nature lovers, families, food and market lovers.
Other festivals in Gyeongsangnam-do
Gyeongsangnam-do
Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival
Oct 2 – Oct 11, 2026
Celebrating its 26th edition, the Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival is a Korean medicine and wellness festival inspired by Donguibogam, which is inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register, and the pristine natural environment of Jirisan Mountain. Held at Donguibogam Village, the festival explores the history and culture of traditional Korean medicine through hands-on activities, exhibitions, performances, and health and wellness programs. Signature programs such as Sancheong Hyeminseo, My Body’s Herbal Remedy Experience, and the Korean Medicine Wellness Hall give visitors opportunities to experience Korean approaches to healthy aging and wellness firsthand. The festival also features local specialties, cultural performances, and family-friendly activities, while highlighting Sancheong’s medicinal herbs and other Korean medicine resources, its anti-aging industry, and its health and wellness tourism offerings. By expanding programs for international visitors and overseas promotion, it aims to share Sancheong’s Korean medicine culture with the world and grow into a global festival attracting visitors from Korea and abroad.
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Hwangmaesan Silver Grass Festival
Oct 17 – Oct 25, 2026
As autumn deepens, Hwangmaesan is dyed in silver with eulalia (silver grass). The 5th Hwangmaesan Silver Grass Festival is a festival where visitors can fully enjoy the atmosphere of autumn against the backdrop of beautiful silver grass scenery, while also enjoying various performances and experiences. Starting with the opening ceremony on October 17, celebratory performances and weekend culture and arts performances continue, and on weekdays, programs offering small pleasures are prepared, such as Hwangmaesan Four-Cut Photos, Healing Music Listening, Catch the 10 Seconds, and Dice Game. During the festival period, a local agricultural specialty sales area and food market also operate, letting visitors feel the local flavors and warmth together with Hwangmaesan's autumn scenery. A sharing-cart tour for those with limited mobility and a docent tour exploring various spots around Hwangmaesan with a forest interpreter are also prepared, so that anyone can comfortably experience Hwangmaesan. Walking slowly while gazing at the silver grass swaying in the wind, and enjoying performances and experiences amid the beautiful scenery, you will soon find yourself in the middle of autumn. It will be a time to visit Hwangmaesan with family, loved ones, or friends and create an autumn day that will stay in your memory for a long time.
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Gamaksan Flower-Star Trip
Sep 18 – Oct 11, 2026
The 6th Gamaksan Flower-Star Trip is a signature autumn festival held from September 18 to October 11, 2026, around Byeolbaram Hill at the summit of Gamaksan Mountain in Sinwon-myeon, Geochang-gun. This year's theme is 'A Purple Comma for Myself,' blending a variety of performances, experiences, and food against the backdrop of autumn's atmosphere and Gamaksan's natural scenery. The festival officially kicks off with an opening ceremony on September 18, featuring a pre-opening performance, an opening performance, and a tour of the gujeolcho (wild chrysanthemum) fields. During the festival, visitors are welcomed by a variety of stages, including busking performances, a Sunset Hill concert, a congratulatory performance by the Geochang Music Friends Association, and a magic show for children. The hands-on programs are also plentiful. Visitors can receive souvenirs through photo zones set up around the venue, a stamp tour, and an SNS certification event. On Byeolbaram Hill, a slow mailbox will be installed where visitors can write letters and receive them before next year's event, offering plenty to see. Food is also one of the festival's great pleasures. At the Flower-Star Market, featuring local farms and businesses, visitors can find Geochang's specialty and processed products. In addition, at the food market run by the Namsang-myeon and Sinwon-myeon women's associations, visitors can enjoy hearty dishes such as bibimbap, gukbap, jeon, and dubu-kimchi at affordable prices, while the food truck zone offers convenient snacks like coffee, sikhye, and hot dogs. Also, for this year's 6th Gamaksan Flower-Star Trip, those without a car can use the shuttle bus, and those driving should check the official website and make a reservation in advance before visiting.
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Dates and programs can change. Check the official site before you go. Official site