Mato Arts Festival

The Mato Arts Festival — its name meaning 'an arts festival held on the last Saturday' — is Anjeong-ri's signature culture and arts festival, run as a themed festival in June and October with a theme chosen for each edition reflecting the season and the character of the area. In October, under the theme 'Broadway in Anjeong-ri', it builds performances around musical theatre along with distinctively conceived hands-on programs and events, staging the Anjeong-ri Artists Plaza as a single musical stage. The festival runs a range of performance programs including themed performances with professional musical actors and ensembles, a wind quintet from the Eighth US Army band and performances by local artists. There are also stamp-tour style programs where visitors become Broadway performers themselves, distinctively conceived activities and events and a red carpet photo zone, offering participatory culture and arts content that residents, foreign residents and visitors can all enjoy. In particular, performances by the Eighth US Army band, reflecting the character of the Anjeong-ri area, create an opportunity for cultural exchange between the local community and US forces, while the range of content offers a festival experience spanning generations and nationalities.