Every Neighborhood Rolls Out Singing Contests, Performances, Hands-on Activities and Food for All Ages
As the cool autumn breeze sets in, Mapo-gu is preparing to host a series of fall festivals with residents at the center of the celebrations.
Mapo-gu said it will hold a string of neighborhood-level festivals starting in September, each planned and run by residents themselves.
The festivals carry added significance because they draw on the participatory budgeting system, allowing residents to lead efforts to strengthen community unity in their own neighborhoods.
Hapjeong-dong will kick off the celebrations. The neighborhood's festival organizing committee will hold the 7th Hapjeong-dong Dream Festival starting at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the lawn plaza of Mapo Saebit Culture Forest.
The event will be divided into a stage zone, an experience zone, a sales zone and an education and promotion zone, offering a wide range of programs.
The stage zone will feature presentations from community center programs, a resident singing contest and a quiz program called "Hapjeong! Ring the Golden Bell."
The experience zone will include an air bounce playground for young visitors, face painting and a "one-minute acorn caricature" activity, giving families plenty to enjoy together.
Rounding out the festival will be a food market, an on-site welfare counseling service and booths promoting upcycling education.
On Sept. 19, the 8th Daeheung Neighborhood Festival will take place at the plaza in front of the Daeheung-dong Community Service Center, while the 4th Boksagol Dohwa-dong Unity Festival will be held at Boksakkot Children's Park and the parking lot of the Geunsin Building in Dohwa-dong.
The Daeheung-dong festival will particularly offer residents novel experiences with trend-driven attractions such as AI caricatures and AI skin diagnostics, along with bumper cars and fishing games for children.
Dohwa-dong plans to offer a variety of stage performances along with chuseok-themed folk game experiences and balloon art. The festival will also include other programs and food booths designed for residents of all ages to enjoy together.
The neighborhood festivals will continue into October, after the chuseok holiday.
Gongdeok-dong will hold the 8th Gongdeok-dong Alkongdalkong Masil Festival; Ahyeon-dong, the 3rd Ahyeon Apricot Blossom Harmony Music Festival; and Yonggang-dong, the 4th Yonggang-dong Village Festival "Let's Play, Tojeong!" Yeomri-dong will hold the 2026 Yeomri-dong Salt Festival; Sinsu-dong, the 14th Sinsucheolli Village Market Festival; and Seogang-dong, "The Whole of Seogang-dong Is a Festival!"
Seogyo-dong will hold its 9th Jandari Village Culture Festival; Mangwon 1-dong, its 6th Telescope Festival; and Mangwon 2-dong, its 6th Wooddangtang Mangtu Harmony Festival. Yeonnam-dong will hold its 2026 Resident Unity Grand Festival, while Seongsan 1-dong will host its 4th Autumn Foliage Path Festival. Seongsan 2-dong will hold its 19th Seongmegande Village Happiness Sharing Festival, and all of these neighborhoods will welcome residents this fall.
"Village festivals that residents prepare and create together have the power to bring neighbors and communities closer," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-kyun said. "I hope this will be a time for all residents to become the true stars of the festival, to communicate and come together, and Mapo-gu will do its part to help build a lively community spirit."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
