📋 Key Summary
- Chuseok Holiday: Sep 24 (Thu)~27 (Sun), 4 days
- Seoripul Kids Classic: Sep 20 (Sun) 11:00, free outdoor concert on Banpo-daero
- Namhansanseong Autumn Festa: Sep 5~Oct 25, palace concerts & moonlit walks
- Gangcheonseom Ginkgo Trail: Yeoju, 685m flat path — stroller-friendly
- Namsangol Chuseok Festival: Sep 25~27, free traditional games & performances
🗓️ 2026 Chuseok Holiday Schedule
| Date | Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 24 | Thu | Chuseok holiday begins |
| Sep 25 | Fri | Chuseok Day |
| Sep 26 | Sat | Holiday |
| Sep 27 | Sun | Last day of the holiday |
Chuseok falls at the end of September this year, so the weather is cool and it’s a perfect time for outdoor activities. There is plenty to enjoy with kids, from festivals and performances to autumn foliage outings.
🎵 Seoul Festivals & Performances
1. Seoripul Music Festival — Kids Classic (Sep 20)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Date & time | Sep 20 (Sun) 11:00 AM |
| Venue | Banpo-daero (Seocho Station ~ Seocho 3-dong Intersection) |
| Admission | Free |
| Performers | Lee Byung-wook, Ditto Orchestra, Berioza Piano Duo (베리오자 피아노 듀오) |
| Program | Part 1: Saint-Saëns, ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ / Part 2: Tchaikovsky, ‘The Nutcracker’ |
A chance to hear classical pieces kids love, outdoors and for free. In ‘The Carnival of the Animals’, the instruments imitate animal sounds, so even young children listen closely.
Other shows at the same festival: 9/19 (Sat) Classic Night (18:30), Jazz Night (21:00) / 9/20 (Sun) K-POP Night (19:00, Jaurim, Crying Nut, Lee Seung-yoon) — there are shows for parents’ tastes, too.
2. Namsangol Chuseok Festival (9/25~27)
Namsangol Hanok Village holds traditional games and folk performances for 3 days starting on Chuseok day. There are plenty of hands-on programs for kids, such as yutnori, tuho and jegichagi. Wearing hanbok adds to the atmosphere.
- Location: 28 Toegye-ro 34-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
- Admission: Free
- Getting there: Chungmuro Station (Lines 3 & 4), Exit 3
3. Seoul International Fireworks Festival
This year it is held in mid-September, about 3 weeks earlier than usual. It takes place around Yeouido Hangang Park, and if you’re going with kids it’s best to claim a spot during the day. Check the official announcement for the exact date.
🏰 Outings Around the Seoul Area
4. Namhansanseong Autumn Festa (9/5~10/25)
A fall festival organized by Gyeonggi Province, with various programs at Namhansanseong over about 2 months.
- Chuseok special programs (9/24~27): Haenggung (temporary palace) concert, moonlight walk
- Regular programs: Fortress wall trekking, traditional activities, food market
- Location: Namhansanseong-myeon, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Tip: The fortress wall trail is hard to use with a stroller — the flat course around the Haenggung is recommended
5. Gangcheonseom Ginkgo Trail, Yeoju ⭐ Recommended
Gangcheonseom is a small island in the Namhangang River. Its 685m ginkgo trail turns yellow in autumn. It’s completely flat, so strollers are fine, and it’s a great walk to take hand in hand with your child. There are also good bike paths nearby.
- Location: Gangcheon-myeon, Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do
- Foliage season: Mid-October~early November (best for ginkgo)
- Time needed: About 1 hour round trip
- Parking: Free parking lot available
- Visiting over Chuseok: Too early for the foliage, but still a nice early-autumn walk. Peak foliage comes after mid-October
🎭 Autumn Festivals Around Korea
6. Andong International Mask Dance Festival
A major autumn festival held during the Chuseok holiday. There are many programs kids can take part in, such as mask making and learning mask dance. Recommended as a 2-day, 1-night trip combined with a visit to Hahoe Village.
- Location: Around Hahoe Village, Andong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do
- Activities: Mask making, learning mask dance, watching Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori (mask dance drama)
7. Baekje Cultural Festival (Gongju & Buyeo)
A festival of Baekje history held in Gongju and Buyeo. With Baekje costume experiences, a visit to the Tomb of King Muryeong and traditional craft activities, it doubles as a history lesson with your kids.
- Location: Around Gongju & Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do
- Suggested route: Gongsanseong Fortress (Gongju) → Tomb of King Muryeong → Jeongnimsa Temple Site (Buyeo)
🍂 Autumn Foliage Spots Good for Kids
Mountains are hard for kids to walk, so we picked mostly flat areas and walking paths.
| Place | Location | Highlights | Foliage Season | Stroller |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gangcheonseom Island | Yeoju, Gyeonggi | 685m ginkgo trail, completely flat | Mid-Oct~early Nov | ⭕ |
| Seokchon Lake | Songpa, Seoul | 2.5km lakeside loop, foliage in the city | Late Oct~early Nov | ⭕ |
| Nami Island | Chuncheon, Gangwon | Metasequoia lane, entry by boat | Late Oct~early Nov | ⭕ |
| The Garden of Morning Calm | Gapyeong, Gyeonggi | Gardens + foliage, many photo spots | Mid-Oct~early Nov | △ Some sections |
| Olympic Park | Songpa, Seoul | Wide lawns + ginkgo trees, playground | Late Oct~early Nov | ⭕ |
| Seoul Forest | Seongdong, Seoul | Deer enclosure + foliage, bicycles | Late Oct~early Nov | ⭕ |
🎪 Autumn Hands-On Programs
Grape & Apple Picking
September and October are fruit harvest season. Kids remember picking and eating fruit themselves for a long time.
- Grapes: Anseong, Hwaseong and Gimcheon areas (September)
- Apples: Chungju, Yeongju and Cheongsong areas (October)
- Booking: Search Naver for ‘grape picking experience’ (‘포도따기 체험’) → book directly with the farm
Chuncheon Rail Bike
A rail bike that runs on the tracks of the closed Gyeongchun Line. You pedal along with your kids through autumn scenery. Combine it with a visit to Nami Island for a perfect day trip.
- Location: Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon
- Fees: 2-seater approx. ₩30,000, 4-seater approx. ₩40,000
- Duration: About 1 hour
- Booking: railpark.co.kr
💡 Autumn Outing Tips
- Dress in layers: In September and October the temperature changes by more than 10°C over the day. Chilly in the morning, warm during the day. A light jacket is a must
- Picnic mat + snacks: On park and island outings, a picnic mat becomes the playground
- Book ahead: On-site registration for festivals and activities closes quickly. Book on Naver in advance
- Park early: At popular spots during the Chuseok holiday, parking lots are full by 10 AM
- Aim for weekdays: 9/24 (Thu) and 25 (Fri) are weekday holidays — quieter than the weekend
🎪 More Seoul Festivals & Performances (Sep~Oct)
Performances, festivals, and outing events happening across Seoul around the Chuseok holiday.
Car-Free Jamsu Bridge Walking Festival
📍 Jamsu Bridge & Banpo Hangang Park | 📅 Sep 6~Oct 25 every Sun | 💰 Free
Seoul Art Goods Festival
📍 DDP (Dongdaemun Design Plaza) | 📅 Sep 12~13 | 💰 Free
Seoripul Music Festival Kids Classic
📍 Banpo-daero (Seocho-gu) | 📅 Sep 20 (Sun) 11:00 | 💰 Free
Namhansanseong Autumn Festa
📍 Namhansanseong (Gwangju·Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do) | 📅 Sep 5~Oct 25 | 💰 Free
Other Festivals & Performances
- Hangang Drone Light Show — 📍 Hangang Parks | 📅 9/12, 10/9, 10/31 | Free
- Seoul Autumn Festa — 📍 Ttukseom Hangang Park and other venues | 📅 9/18~11/29 | Free
- Seoul International Fireworks Festival — 📍 Yeouido Hangang Park | 📅 9/4~5 | Free
- Seoul Street Arts Festival — 📍 Various locations in Seoul | 📅 9/19~20 | Free
- Seoul Sculpture Festival (서울조각페스티벌) — 📍 Hwarangdae Railway Park (Nowon-gu) | 📅 9/12~13 | Free
- Zandari Festa — 📍 10 venues in Hongdae | 📅 9/4~6 | Paid
- Seoul International Dance Festival — 📍 Various locations in Seoul | 📅 9/2~19 | Paid/Free
- Seoul Fashion Week — 📍 DDP | 📅 9/1~6 | Invitation/Paid
- Entertech Seoul (엔터테크 서울) — 📍 DDP | 📅 9/17~20 | Paid
- Seoul Light DDP — 📍 DDP exterior walls | 📅 9/3~13 | Free
FAQ
How to Get There
📍 View on Google Maps · Naver Map (Korean)
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