Heungbu Festival

The 34th Heungbu Festival is a traditional local festival held by Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do, themed on the classic novel Heungbujeon. With brotherly love, repaying kindness, sharing and good fortune as its common themes, it runs for three days from Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, 2026, in and around Gwanghalluwon Garden. Under a Namwon city ordinance, the festival day is designated as Namwon Citizens' Day; the festival was originally held on the lunar 9th day of the 9th month (Jungyangjeol), but its timing has been adjusted as circumstances required. This year's festival stands out for expanding the participation of local businesses and small merchants under the slogan ‘A Heungbu Festival with Citizens and Small Businesses’. At Gwanghalluwon Garden there will be Heungbu's Special Market recreating Heungbu's house, thatched-roof booths selling Jirisan farm specialties, and a K-Food Road featuring food from Namwon's small businesses, while the Heungbu's Jackpot Store Challenge linked with shops in the old downtown and the Golden Gourd Breaking, where giant gourds 6 to 8 meters high are burst open, add to the attractions. Other programs blending tradition and modernity include Joseon-era job experiences, a traditional science fair, a performance reinterpreting the Battle of Namwon Fortress during the Jeongyu War, the changgeuk (Korean opera) Heungbujeon, the Namwon Nongak Contest and traditional wedding experiences, helping the festival establish itself as a stay-over festival linking Gwanghalluwon Garden and the old downtown.