2009 Nagan Folk Culture Festival: May 3rd - 5th.

The 16th Nagan Folk Culture Festival will take place at Suncheon's Nagan Folk Village from May 3rd through the 5th. Odd timing perhaps, as that's a Sunday through Tuesday, though the 5th is Children's Day and thus a day we're off from school. It also means everyone else is off, so expect crowds.

I went to this festival last year, and highly recommended it as a good time to visit the folk village if you've never been. I'll just direct your attention to that post for a fuller write-up on the village and the festival, but I will quote again from a blogger who loves the village:

This place impressed me on several levels. Part museum, part artists' colony, and part time machine, this historic, inhabited fortress town is an ideal destination for those of us who adore travel but are easily bored by museums and standard touristy fare.

The Korean counterpart to Western Renaissance Fairs, folk villages are communities dedicated to preserving and perpetuating traditional customs and craftsmanship. The village at Nagan is exceptional in that it is housed inside a Chosun-era walled fortress, which in itself is a formidable historic landmark.

Here are a few photos I took last May:







And a 귀여운 아줌마:



I was standing there filming her go at the ddeok, but since this is Korea and people are oblivious to those around them, you can guess what somebody did.

City buses 63 and 68 go there, but they run somewhat sporadically so I recommend checking the online timetable so you don't end up waiting forever.

I added this to my list of Jeollanam-do festivals about a week after it originally came out. It'll be a busy week for festivals: the Damyang Bamboo Festival is the 2nd through the 7th, the Yeosu Turtleship Festival is the 2nd through the 5th, the Wando Jangbogo Festival is also the 2nd through the 5th, and the Boseong Green Tea Festival is the 8th through the 11th. The Jeonju Film Festival and the Hampyeong Butterfly Festival will still be on, as will a couple of smaller ones. Check the list for more information.