[Provided by Yeongju City]
[Provided by Yeongju City]

The 2026 Yeongju Apple Festival, held amid the autumn scenery of Buseoksa temple in North Gyeongsang Province, wrapped up its three-day run to an enthusiastic reception from visitors.

According to Yeongju city officials, the festival ran from Friday through Sunday at the small parking lot area near Buseoksa, under the theme "Rolling Away — Yeongju Apples on the Loose." Activities included apple sales and tastings, cultural performances and hands-on experience programs.

The festival grounds featured booths selling a variety of Yeongju apple cultivars alongside local agricultural products, where visitors could sample and purchase directly. An on-site delivery service was also available for out-of-town tourists.

Family-friendly programs drew strong interest as well, including oversized yutnori (a traditional board game), park golf, a Yeongju apple quiz, a model-building activity based on Buseoksa's Muryangsujeon hall, and woodworking and school-uniform experience booths.

The event promoted the quality of Yeongju apples while linking Buseoksa's autumn tourism appeal with local agricultural products.

For visitors, it offered diverse experiences and seasonal food; for local farming households, it provided a direct channel to consumers and an opportunity to expand their market reach.

The festival's momentum will carry over to Seoul, where Yeongju city will hold a follow-up event at Cheonggyecheon Square from Nov. 13 to 15.

"We are grateful to all the visitors who came out to the festival despite the poor weather," a Yeongju city official said. "At the Cheonggyecheon Square event, we will work hard to spread awareness of Yeongju apples and help local farmers reach more consumers."


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