The 40th Pyeonghae Dano Festival, held June 20 and 21 at Namdaecheon Sports Park in Pyeonghae-eup, concludes successfully. [Uljin-gun]
The 40th Pyeonghae Dano Festival, held June 20 and 21 at Namdaecheon Sports Park in Pyeonghae-eup, concludes successfully. [Uljin-gun]

The 40th Pyeonghae Dano Festival, a signature traditional cultural festival in Uljin-gun, North Gyeongsang Province, drew enthusiastic participation from local residents and tourists before closing successfully over the weekend.

Uljin-gun said Monday the two-day festival, held June 20 and 21 at Namdaecheon Sports Park in Pyeonghae-eup, concluded as a celebration of traditional cultural values and community spirit.

Held under the slogan "Connecting Pyeonghae's Heart Through Dano," the festival brought residents and tourists together to carry on the region's traditional culture.

On the first day, a ritual offering ceremony opened the program, followed by a folk games competition among towns and villages and a tightrope-walking performance by the Namchang-dong troupe. The festival's signature event, the Wolsong Big Tug-of-War, drew an enthusiastic response from participants and spectators alike.

The second day featured the Pyeonghae Dano Ssireum Wrestling Championship and the finals of the Pyeonghae Dano Singing Contest, with competitors putting on spirited performances. Performances by the Uljin Entertainers Association, local artists and singer Kim Hyun-jung further lifted the festival atmosphere.

Traditional Dano games and folk experience programs ran throughout the venue, drawing steady crowds of visitors.

Hands-on activities — including making good-luck dolls to ward off misfortune, crafting Dano bracelets, swinging on traditional swings, playing yutnori and tossing arrows in tuho — gave children and families an accessible and enjoyable introduction to traditional culture.

Food markets, tourism information booths and convenience facilities were also set up across the grounds to enhance visitor satisfaction.

"The 40th Pyeonghae Dano Festival was a meaningful occasion to share the precious value of traditional culture and reflect on the spirit of community," a Uljin-gun official said. "We will continue working to develop the Pyeonghae Dano Festival into an even more prominent traditional cultural festival representing Uljin."


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