Han River with Kids in October, Weekend by Weekend: Jamsu Bridge, Drone Shows, Reading Han River Park (as of 10/5)

📅 Last updated: 2026-10-05 | Rechecked against official pages

Short answer: for the rest of the October weekends on the Han River, go Saturday daytime to Yeouido or Gwangnaru, Sunday afternoon to Jamsu Bridge, and the Ttukseom drone show at night. That order covers almost everything.

There are two drone shows left, 10/9 (Fri) and 10/31 (Sat). 10/25 is the last Sunday of the car-free Jamsu Bridge festival.

I grouped the October Han River outings by weekend. The weekends left are 10/10–11, 17–18, 24–25, plus the single day of 10/31.

Hangeul Day on 10/9 falls on a Friday, so I folded it into the first weekend as a three-day holiday.

What’s on at the Han River for the rest of October, at a glance?

Where should we go on the Han River over the 10/9–11 Hangeul Day long weekend?

If you can only pick one of the three days, make it Saturday (10/10). Yeouido has the paper airplane festival and Reading Han River Park on the same day.

In the evening, head over to Nodeul Island for the Bitseom light festival. 10/11 is Bitseom’s last day.

Ttukseom Drone Light Show, 2nd show — 10/9 (Fri)

📅 When: 2026.10.09 (Fri) Part 1 performances 19:30–20:30 → drone light show 20:30–20:45
📍 Where: Ttukseom Han River Park
💰 Fee: Free (you can watch from anywhere around the park)

The drones are up for 15 minutes. The official pages disagree on when Part 2 ends (21:15 on one, 21:25 on another), so I left it out.

With little kids, it’s fine to watch just the drone show and leave early. (The drone show notice also lists a mini drone show at 20:45–20:55.)

Rain or strong wind can delay or cancel it, and the official guide asks people to take the subway and spread out across different stations afterwards.

Seoul Light Han River Bitseom Festival, last three days — until 10/11 (Sun)

📅 When: 2026.10.02 (Fri) – 10.11 (Sun) 18:30–22:30
📍 Where: Nodeul Island (south end of Hangang Bridge)
💰 Fee: Free
🚌 Shuttle: Sinyongsan Station (Exit 4) – Nodeul Island – Nodeul Station (Exit 2) – Noryangjin Station (Exit 3), every 15 minutes

There are 14 laser and media art works plus 3 light sculptures made with universities, spread all over the island.

The roughly 300m walkway along Hangang Bridge to Nodeul Island is itself an installation (the “Bitseom Promenade”), so there’s something to look at from the moment you start walking.

On 10/9–11 there’s “Donghaeng Light,” which pairs performances with fundraising, and on 10/9–10 there’s “Bitseom Lecture,” a short outdoor talk at 18:30–19:10.

The live house show on 10/10 (Sat) is VAKKI, 19:30–20:30. You’ll need to check the official website separately for the detailed Donghaeng Light times.

2026 Hangang Paper Airplane Festival — 10/10 (Sat)

📅 When: 2026.10.10 (Sat) 10:00–18:00
📍 Where: Yeouido Han River Park, Nogeumsu Plaza (in front of the E-Cruise pier)
💰 Fee: Free
🚇 Getting there: Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) Exit 3, 7 minutes on foot

Contestant sign-up for the distance and flight-time contests (700 people in total) already closed on 9/19.

But there’s still plenty to do even if you’re not competing.

Anyone can join the on-site event games announced on the day, and there are hands-on activities like making your own plane, flying planes through a target, a pilot academy and a colorful balloon playground.

There’s also a stage with talks and demos by national team flyers.

(The Hangang Project HQ page says it starts at 09:00, but the Seoul festival portal says 10:00.)

Reading Han River Park “Han Seok-bong Challenge” — 10/10 (Sat)

📅 When: 2026.09.12 – 10.31 every Saturday 13:00–20:00 (per the Seoul festival portal; each program runs 60–120 minutes)
📍 Where: Yeouido Han River Park, Multi Plaza
💰 Fee: Free
🚇 Getting there: Yeouinaru Station (Line 5) Exit 2, 5–7 minutes on foot

Since 10/10 falls in Hangeul Day week, there’s a survival contest called the “Han Seok-bong Challenge.”

You go through four rounds in a row: making songpyeon (rice cakes) blindfolded, writing with a brush, drawing a given word, and guessing book titles.

The same week also has an “Unlimited Reading Contest” you can join with e-books and audiobooks too.

I couldn’t confirm the challenge start time or how to sign up on the official pages.

It’s inside the same Yeouido Han River Park as the paper airplane festival, so you can easily do both in one day.

Hangang Family Festival — Gwangnaru 10/10 & 11, Jamwon 10/9

📅 When: Gwangnaru 2026.10.03 – 10.18 every Saturday and Sunday (6 sessions in total) / Jamwon 10.09 (Fri) only
📍 Where: Gwangnaru Han River Park, lawn at the south end of Gwangjin Bridge / Jamwon Han River Park, multipurpose field
💰 Fee: Free

It’s a family festival that’s basically an outdoor library with a playground attached.

There are over 7,500 books (6,000 at Gwangnaru, 1,500 at Jamwon) and 400 spots on beanbags, mats and under shade canopies.

The play zone has a big bouncy castle, a ball pit, a roller coaster, tube rolling and a kids’ basketball hoop, and in the craft zone you make bookmarks, pop-up books and fallen-leaf book lanterns.

• 10/9 (Fri) Jamwon Sunset Orchestra — orchestra, Bongsan mask dance, fusion gugak (Korean traditional music) and dance performances
• 10/10 (Sat) Gwangnaru Hangang Kids Movie Night — <How to Train Your Dragon> and <F1 The Movie> on a big screen
• 10/11 (Sun) Gwangnaru “Challenge!! Reading Golden Bell” quiz — 100 kids in grades 3–6

Hmm.. the one letdown is that the official notice still doesn’t list opening hours. I couldn’t find how to apply for the Golden Bell either.

For the two movies, check the age ratings ahead of time to see if they suit your kid. Inquiries: festival office 02-481-2489.

Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival — 10/11 (Sun)

📅 When: 2026.09.06 – 10.25 every Sunday 14:00–22:00
🚗 Road closure: every Sunday 12:00–24:00 (about 1.1km from the north end of Jamsu Bridge to Dalbit Plaza at the south end)
📍 Where: Jamsu Bridge and around Banpo Han River Park
💰 Fee: Free (some food truck food, handicrafts and Dalbit Workshop activities are paid)

Every week there’s the 5.2m “Ttuttu Bounce,” the “Naktabong Canvas” where kids draw on the road, and 30 food trucks.

With Jamsu Bridge set to go fully pedestrian in the second half of 2027, this year is said to be the last season of the “car-free Jamsu Bridge” in its current form.

The thing is, the official pages don’t agree on the order of the October Sunday programs.

The festival website (festa-ddooddoo.com) lists 10/11 as “Jamsu Bridge Refresh Day” and 10/18 as “Moonlit Jamsu Bridge,” with time and place for both marked “update in progress.”

The Hangang Project HQ page says the opposite: 10/11 Moonlit Jamsu Bridge (media art), 10/18 Refresh Day (sunset yoga). So I’m not listing times here.

Check the festival website the day before you go. (Even more so for the yoga, since it needs advance sign-up.)

What’s on at the Han River on the 10/17–18 weekend?

This is when Hangang Festival Autumn (10/17–25) kicks off.

The kid-friendly parts are clustered at Jamwon, but most are paid with advance booking, and booking closes 10/14 (Wed) 17:00.

If you want to just show up without booking, Saturday at Yeouido or Gwangnaru is the easier pick.

Reading Han River Park “Hangang Autumn Jazz Festa” — 10/17 (Sat)

Jazz such as swing and bossa nova at the Multi Plaza in Yeouido Han River Park. Free.

The outdoor library and the bouncy castle and ball pit play zone run as usual. The official page doesn’t give the concert time.

Hangang Family Festival — 10/17 (Sat) Jenga contest, 10/18 (Sun) closing jazz

Lawn at the south end of Gwangjin Bridge, Gwangnaru Han River Park.

10/17 is the Hangang Jenga Contest, and on 10/18 the festival closes with the “Autumn Han River, Jazz Walk” concert. Free.

The reading spots and play zone are the same every weekend, so it looks like plenty to play with even if you skip the contest.

Hangang Festival Autumn — Jamwon “O.Un.Han” and “Hangang Hankki” (10/17–18)

📍 Where: Jamwon Han River Park, multipurpose field
💰 Fee: 5,000 won per person (up to 2 tickets per person)
📝 Booking: Urban Sports website, 10/1 (Thu) 17:00 – 10/14 (Wed) 17:00, first come, first served

• #O.Un.Han (오.운.한) Rhythm training 10:00–11:00, Pound Fit 12:00–13:00 (ages 6+) / Sliding board 14:00–15:00 (ages 12+). 100 people per activity per day
• Hangang Hankki (한강한끼, “a meal at the Han River”) 16:00–17:30. You make a meal without fire using ingredients from around you, then eat it. 100 people per day

Kids 12 and under must come with a guardian.

No-show and leftover spots are posted on the booking page on 10/15 (Thu) at 17:00, and on the day the information booth hands them out first come, first served from 1 hour before start.

They state clearly that there’s no parking support.

Hangang Silent Yoga — 10/17 (Sat) Jamwon, 10/25 (Sun) Banpo

Yoga with headphones on. 15:30–18:00, 9,000 won per person.

Elementary schoolers aged 8 and up only; preschoolers can’t join.

Location: the lawn in front of the Jamwon Information Center (10/17) and the east picnic area of Banpo Han River Park (10/25). Bring your own mat or picnic mat.

If it rains, a cancellation notice goes up by 12:00 on the day.

Where should we go with kids on 10/24–25?

If your kid is in elementary school, Gangseo is the No. 1 pick. It’s free and has the most active, move-your-body play.

Hangang Forest Adventure — 10/24 (Sat) – 25 (Sun)

📅 When: 2026.10.24 (Sat) – 10.25 (Sun) 13:00–17:00
📍 Where: Next to the children’s playground, Gangseo Han River Park
💰 Fee: Free
👶 Who: Monkey climbing, zipline and rope play ages 6+ / tree climbing ages 9+

The adventure zone and rest zone are walk-in, no booking needed.

Only the craft activity “Autumn Forest Workshop” takes bookings, through the Seoul Public Service Reservation site.

Booking runs 10/6 (Tue) 17:00 – 10/21 (Wed) 17:00, 400 people per day.

There are only 20 hammocks and mats, and the notice says you’re welcome to bring your own tent or mat.

If the line gets long, adventure zone access may be limited.

The Road Chef Hangang — 10/24 (Sat) – 25 (Sun)

A sales competition at the Ttukseom Han River Park swimming pool where 20 teams of young chefs from all over Korea sell food and compete.

Weekend hours are 10/24 (Sat) 13:00–21:00 and 10/25 (Sun) 13:00–20:00. Entry is free; food is extra.

The awards ceremony is on 10/25 at 19:00.

Reading Han River Park “Hangang Book Swap” — 10/24 (Sat)

Multi Plaza, Yeouido Han River Park. You bring a “book of your life” from home and swap it for someone else’s.

The official notice doesn’t say whether kids’ picture books count.

Jamsu Bridge Season Finale — 10/25 (Sun)

The last Sunday of this year’s car-free Jamsu Bridge festival. The program hasn’t been announced yet.

It runs 14:00–22:00, and the road closure is 12:00–24:00, same as other Sundays.

Can we see both the closing ceremony and the drone show on the last Saturday, 10/31?

Yes. But doing both means a fairly long trip in between. Yeouido in the daytime, Ttukseom at night.

• Reading Han River Park closing ceremony (Multi Plaza, Yeouido Han River Park) — Navy band MC, singers, a musical, samulnori (traditional percussion), band and magic performances, plus a live band stage. Free
• Drone light show, 3rd show (Ttukseom Han River Park) — a “Marvel” theme in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company Korea. The largest ever, with 2,000 drones. Part 1 performance 19:30, drones 20:30–20:45. Free

Being a Marvel special, it’ll probably get pretty crowded. (Over 125,000 people reportedly came to the 5 shows in the first half of the year.)

If you’re bringing kids, get a spot early, and rather than leaving the second it ends, waiting a bit before heading out will probably be easier.

What time does the Banpo Moonlight Rainbow Fountain run in October?

📅 October schedule: 12:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00 (20 minutes each)
📍 Where: Banpo Bridge, Banpo Han River Park (1,140m along the upstream and downstream sides)
💰 Fee: Free

It stops when wind speed is 7m/s or more or when rain is forecast during show time.

If you go to the Jamsu Bridge festival on a Sunday and stay for the 19:30 or 20:00 show, the route fits perfectly.

What should we check before going?

• Two booking deadlines — Jamwon O.Un.Han and Hangang Hankki 10/14 (Wed) 17:00, Gangseo Autumn Forest Workshop 10/21 (Wed) 17:00
• Age limits — Forest Adventure ages 6/9, O.Un.Han ages 6/12, Silent Yoga 8 and up, Reading Golden Bell grades 3–6
• Weather — the drone show, fountain and outdoor programs change with rain or strong wind. Check the official website the day before
• Driving — the official guides for Jamsu Bridge, the drone show and Hangang Festival all recommend public transit. Hangang Festival has no parking support
• Jackets — even the Hangang Festival notice says it may get cold and to dress warmly. For evening events, bring an extra jacket for your kid

The Han River still has somewhere to go every weekend in October, right up to the last one.

When new schedules come out (Jamsu Bridge 10/25, the Family Festival timetable), I’ll add them to this post.

📋 Sources

• Hangang Project HQ events and performances — Bitseom Festival, Reading Han River Park, Hangang Family Festival, Paper Airplane Festival, Drone Light Show, Jamsu Bridge festival, Hangang Festival Autumn
• Car-Free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival special programs — October Sunday programs
• Han River Light Show (Drone Light Show) — second-half schedule and show times
• 2026 Hangang Festival programs by theme — O.Un.Han, Hangang Hankki, Forest Adventure, Silent Yoga, The Road Chef
• Reading Han River Park — 2026 Hangang Family Festival — program by session
• Seoul festival portal — 2026 Hangang Paper Airplane Festival, 2026 Reading Han River Park (second half) — times and transit
• Hangang Project HQ Moonlight Rainbow Fountain (Banpo) — October schedule

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

When are the remaining Han River drone shows in October?

Two left: 10/9 (Fri) and 10/31 (Sat), both at Ttukseom Han River Park. Part 1 performance 19:30, drone light show 20:30–20:45.

On 10/31, 2,000 drones fly in a Marvel theme. It’s free, and rain or strong wind can delay or cancel it.

When does the Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival end?

10/25 (Sun) is the last day. Every Sunday 14:00–22:00, road closure 12:00–24:00.

The festival website and the Hangang Project HQ page list the 10/11 and 10/18 programs in different order, so check the festival website before you go.

Is the Seoul International Fireworks Festival in October this year?

No. According to Hangang Project HQ event info, the 2026 Seoul International Fireworks Festival already took place on 9/5 (Sat).

Evening events on the Han River in October are the drone shows (10/9 and 10/31), the Nodeul Island Bitseom Festival (until 10/11) and the Banpo Rainbow Fountain.

Which Han River events can we go to without booking?

The drone shows, Bitseom Festival, Paper Airplane Festival (event games and activities), Reading Han River Park, Hangang Family Festival, Jamsu Bridge festival and the Forest Adventure’s adventure zone are all walk-in.

Only Jamwon O.Un.Han and Hangang Hankki (deadline 10/14) and the Autumn Forest Workshop (deadline 10/21) need advance booking.

Which programs have age limits for kids?

Forest Adventure: monkey climbing and zipline ages 6+, tree climbing ages 9+. O.Un.Han: rhythm training and Pound Fit ages 6+, sliding board ages 12+.

Silent Yoga is for elementary schoolers aged 8 and up, and the Reading Golden Bell is for grades 3–6.

This post was written based on public data and official websites.

Event dates, venues and fees can change, so please check the official site again before you visit.

ℹ️ This post is based on official sources such as Hangang Project HQ (Han River Parks) events and performances, Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival, Han River Light Show (Drone Light Show) and 2026 Hangang Festival, and is updated when details change.

This isn’t based on my own visits. I reopened the official pages on 10/4 and copied the numbers from there.

(Events from my last post that have already ended are all gone.)