Cheongdo wraps up 2026 persimmon and comedy festivals to strong crowds

The 2026 Cheongdo Bansi Festival concludes to wide success. [Cheongdo-gun]

The "2026 Cheongdo Bansi Festival and Cheongdo World Comedy Art Festival," the signature autumn events of Cheongdo-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, wrapped up to an enthusiastic response from tourists and local residents.

According to Cheongdo-gun, the two festivals ran for three days from Friday through Sunday at the Cheongdo Outdoor Performance Venue, showcasing a range of performances and hands-on programs while promoting the region's agricultural specialties and cultural tourism offerings.

This year's Cheongdo Bansi Festival adopted the slogan "Gamgamhuisosik" — a play on words evoking good news tied to the persimmon — and focused on raising awareness of the Cheongdo bansi, the country's only seedless persimmon variety, while boosting the brand value of local farm products.

The Cheongdo World Comedy Art Festival ran under the banner "South Korea's No. 1 comedy destination, Cheongdo!" and featured invited performances from home and abroad alongside participatory content.

Together, the two festivals combined Cheongdo's signature assets — the bansi persimmon and comedy — into a multi-faceted event encompassing entertainment, food and hands-on experiences.

A balloon art show by "Kidari Ajeossi" ("Tall Stranger") at the festival. [Kim Byung-jin]

Highlights included a bansi dessert market, a Cheongdo Bansi band festival, a kids' zone, a giant balloon show and busking performances, drawing visitors of all ages — from families with young children to youth and middle-aged attendees.

Comedy performances and street acts also energized the festival atmosphere and drew strong interest from younger visitors.

Cheongdo-gun expanded its bansi exhibition and sales pavilion compared to last year, allowing visitors to taste and purchase Cheongdo bansi on the spot. By linking hands-on experiences, sales and events, organizers encouraged direct transactions at the venue and promoted other local agricultural products, including apples, shiitake mushrooms, snail rice and dried persimmon slices.

Comedy duo brothers Sangho and Sangmin also visited the bansi sales pavilion and agricultural product booths, sampling products and helping with promotional activities.

Participatory programs were also expanded. Activities included a bansi dessert world tour, a persimmon vinegar foot bath, the Cheongdo Bansi sports day, a human bansi vending machine, a bansi game challenge and a Cheongdo ESG practice experience, all adding to the festive atmosphere.

Street performances — including a balloon art show by Kidari Ajeossi, a bubble art show, a tin man act and a Kkokdu Crew performance — also drew warm responses from the crowd. At Cheongdo Eupseong Fortress, a roving comedy busking program brought laughter and entertainment to areas beyond the main festival grounds.

Alongside these, programs centered on local culture and community — including the Cheongdo Arts Festival, Cheongdo Chasan Nongak (a traditional farmers' music performance), a township competition and a Cheongdo Love Zone — rounded out the event and highlighted the county's distinct identity.

Cheongdo-gun County Chief Park Gwon-hyeon said the festival "was an occasion that showcased Cheongdo's competitiveness by spreading awareness of the excellence of the Cheongdo bansi and incorporating comedy as an accessible cultural draw," adding that he would "continue to make active use of local resources and cultural content to develop a signature festival that satisfies both residents and tourists alike."

kbj7653@heraldcorp.com