Participants trek along the East-West Trail at last year's event. [North Gyeongsang Province]
Participants trek along the East-West Trail at last year's event. [North Gyeongsang Province]

North Gyeongsang Province will host a series of forest festivals throughout October in Bonghwa-gun, Pohang, Yeongju and other areas across the province, offering visitors a chance to enjoy autumn foliage, flowers, hiking, hands-on activities, local food and culture, the provincial government announced Sunday.

The first event, the 2026 Baekdudaegan Bongja Festival, runs through Oct. 11 at the National Baekdudaegan Arboretum. The arboretum will be closed Tuesday.

The festival's name draws on "Bongja," a term referring to native plants of Bonghwa-gun. More than 550,000 locally grown native plants will be displayed throughout the arboretum grounds.

This year's theme is "Savoring the World: Sniff, Touch, Taste," with autumn wildflowers including patrinia, chrysanthemum and aster on display.

From Friday through Saturday, the North Gyeongsang Province Arboretum will hold an autumn festival marking its 25th anniversary. Family-oriented programs — forest play, forest ecology crafts, woodworking and a tree-name quiz — along with celebratory performances are planned.

During the same period, the Kolon Trail Camp in East-West Trail will take place in the Dosim 3-ri area of Bonghwa-gun. Participants can choose from three routes: a 30-kilometer course from Chunyang to Bonghwa-gun, a 60-kilometer course from Danyang through Yeongju to Bonghwa-gun, and a 120-kilometer course from Uljin to Bonghwa-gun.

From Oct. 16 to 18, the 2026 North Gyeongsang Province Forest Expo will open at Manindang and the lawn plaza in Pohang.

Twenty-two cities and counties within the province, along with forestry companies and institutions, will participate, operating around 100 booths featuring forest-related exhibitions, hands-on programs, promotional activities and side events.

A "Forest Bread Festival" using forest products such as walnuts, chestnuts and pine nuts will also be held.

On Oct. 23 and 24, the 2026 Baekdudaegan Regional Cooperation Forest Healing Expo will be held at the National Forest Healing Center in Yeongju, offering forest therapy experiences, programs related to the future of the healing industry, and a flea market featuring local forest and agricultural products.

"We hope residents and tourists will take part in these diverse forest events, soak in the autumn atmosphere, and experience the rich forest resources and regional charm that North Gyeongsang Province has to offer," said Choi Sun-go, director of the provincial forest resources bureau.


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