[Provided by Yeongcheon city]
[Provided by Yeongcheon city]

Yeongcheon city in North Gyeongsang Province will host the 2026 Yeongcheon Joint Festival at Yeongcheon Riverside Park from Oct. 2 to 4, the city announced Thursday.

The three-day event brings together four festivals under one roof: the 52nd Yeongcheon Culture and Arts Festival, the 24th Yeongcheon Oriental Medicine Festival, the 14th Yeongcheon Wine Festa and the Starlight Hanwoo Grilling Festival.

This year, the festival grounds have been expanded from below Yeongdong Bridge to the area near Yeongcheon Culture Center, improving visitor access and flow.

With the four festivals sharing a single venue, visitors can move freely between them throughout the day, sampling each event's distinct offerings.

An opening ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 2 at the main stage in Yeongcheon Riverside Park.

Pre-ceremony performances featuring nanta drumming and a cappella acts will warm up the crowd before a celebratory concert headlined by Cheonrokdam, Solji and Lee Sona, who will bring the autumn riverside atmosphere to life.

The 52nd Yeongcheon Culture and Arts Festival will feature exhibitions of cultural and artistic works alongside participatory programs open to residents, including a pungmul and nanta competition, a pumbba festival and folk games representing various neighborhoods.

The 24th Yeongcheon Oriental Medicine Festival, themed "See your health through Yeongcheon — Yeongcheon, city of oriental medicine," blends traditional herbal medicine with modern content through game- and mission-based interactive activities.

At the 14th Yeongcheon Wine Festa, visitors can sample a wide selection of wines from local wineries and purchase bottles at discounted prices. Hands-on workshops — including winemaking and wine bottle and label decorating — will run alongside busking performances and magic shows aimed at younger audiences.

The Starlight Hanwoo Grilling Festival will operate an outdoor grilling restaurant where visitors can taste Yeongcheon Starlight Hanwoo, the city's signature beef, on the spot. Discounts of 10 to 30 percent on the beef will be offered throughout the festival.

"We have prepared a rich program so that visitors can enjoy Yeongcheon's defining offerings — culture and arts, oriental medicine, wine and starlight hanwoo grilling — all in one place," Yeongcheon Mayor Kim Byeong-sam said. "We hope you will come with family, friends and loved ones to enjoy the various festivals along the Yeongcheon riverside and create special autumn memories."


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com