Starting with Ahyeon Market on Friday, traditional markets and shopping streets across the district will host night market festivals featuring free draft beer, retro games, family activities and more — each with its own local character.
When night falls over Mapo-gu's traditional markets and shopping streets, a season of food and festivity begins.
Mapo-gu announced that traditional markets and shopping streets in the district have been selected for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's 2026 Night and Food Culture Revitalization support project, and will hold a series of festivals tailored to each venue's distinct character.
The events are designed to draw visitors with nighttime entertainment and food offerings while injecting new energy into local commercial districts.
On Friday, Ahyeon Market will kick things off with "Ahyeon Sidae," an event running from 4 p.m. under the theme "Memories Begin Again at the Market."
Shoppers who make a purchase at participating stores during the event will receive a voucher redeemable for a draft beer, popcorn or slushie.
Retro games evoking childhood memories will also be on offer — stirring nostalgia for older visitors while giving younger generations something new to enjoy.
Mangwon-dong World Cup Market will host its own "Global Culture Festival" from Friday through Saturday.
Visitors who present a receipt for a purchase of 3,000 won or more will receive a free draft beer.
Those who spend 10,000 won ($7) or more can take part in hands-on traditional culture workshops — making eco-friendly coffee-grounds keyrings, norigae ornaments and hanji paper fans — opening the market experience to foreign visitors as well as locals.
A market-name guessing challenge and a roving "Polaroid Man" event, where visitors can get free instant photos taken, will add to the fun.
The "Dohwa-dong Boksa-gol Night Market Festival," organized by the Dohwa-dong Shopping Street Merchants' Association, will run from Saturday through Sunday at Boksakot Children's Park.
The first 2,000 visitors to the festival grounds will receive a free draft beer on a first-come, first-served basis.
Family activity booths run by Love Phone, Mapo Community Welfare Center and the district-run Dohwa Youth Culture House will be set up alongside a play zone, a bubble show and other performances, giving families with children a full night market experience.
On Sept. 10, the Yonggang-dong Shopping Street will organize the "Yonggang-dong Gourmet Road Night Festival," where visitors can sample a variety of foods unique to the area and soak up the atmosphere of an autumn evening.
Additional night market events organized by Mangnidan-gil Alley Shopping Street will run from Sept. 17 through Sept. 20, with Hapjeong-dong Food Alley Shopping Street joining in on Sept. 18. The festivities will continue into October, with events planned at Mangwon Market, Gyeongui Forest Street Seogang Alley Shopping Street, Mapo Agricultural and Marine Products Market, Yeonnam Alley Shopping Street and the Hongdae Small Business Merchants' Association.
"I hope these night market festivals will make our traditional markets and shopping streets lively places that draw crowds not just during the day but well into the night," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said. "I invite everyone to come out this fall with family, friends and neighbors to enjoy great food and a wide range of entertainment."
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