In autumn, the golden waves of reeds at Kangjin Bay in South Jeolla Province will transform into an ecological experience space for children and families to play and learn about nature.
Kangjin County announced on October 19 that the 11th Kangjin Bay Dancing Reed Festival will be held from October 24 to November 1, expanding from a viewing-centered event to an interactive and experiential festival.
This year's festival features activities that connect the ecological resources of Kangjin Bay, such as reeds, migratory birds, and wetlands, with play, environmental education, and relaxation programs. Visitors will not only admire the reed fields but also engage in creating and exploring to experience the value of nature.
A key area for family visitors is the 'Kangjin Bay Kids Zone.'
Here, children can participate in hands-on programs such as making shell flutes, creating water game devices, and crafting pin and mirror buttons.
The festival encourages creativity and a sense of achievement by allowing children to use materials and decorate their creations instead of simply providing finished products.
An eco-friendly upcycling program will also teach the importance of environmental protection.
Activities include making clickers from recycled bottle caps, creating succulent plant pots from used beverage cans, and crafting keychains from leftover sock yarn.
Programs focused on resource conservation in daily life will include making acrylic toothpaste tube keychains and clay soap shaped like the Earth.
In the nearby 'Kangjin Bay Play Park Zone,' visitors can enjoy various sports experiences, including golf hole-in-one, table tennis, basketball, and curling.
A 'Trash Exchange Center' will operate throughout the festival, where visitors can exchange collected trash for souvenirs. This initiative aims to encourage voluntary environmental cleanup activities while educating children about the importance of protecting the environment in their daily lives.
The Kangjin Bay Ecological Park will also offer exploration programs to observe the natural environment.
The 'Two-Wheeled Green Bicycle Tour' allows participants to ride rented bicycles along the reed paths and enjoy the autumn scenery of Kangjin Bay.
The 'Kangjin Bay Reed Ecological Exploration Team' will walk through the wetlands with a natural ecology guide to learn about the flora and fauna inhabiting Kangjin Bay and the importance of environmental conservation.
Unique relaxation programs will also attract attention.
On October 25 and 31, the 'Reed Observation' event will invite participants to enjoy relaxation while minimizing movement, with prizes of up to 200,000 won awarded based on rankings.
To celebrate the festival's 11th anniversary, the 'Catch 11 Seconds!' program will challenge participants to stop a stopwatch at exactly 11 seconds.
A mobile participation program will encourage visitors to explore the event site.
The 'Kangjin Friends Gather Tap Tap!' mobile tour will have participants find and verify Kangjin County's representative characters placed at eight locations throughout the festival. Completing all stops will earn participants 5,000 won in mileage.
New members who join the related program 'Kangjin Product ON Citizens' will receive an additional 5,000 won in mileage.
The 'Kangjin Bay Multi-Color Stamp Tour' will allow participants to visit six festival locations to collect stamps and complete a scenic depiction of the reed fields.
Participants can keep the completed artwork as a souvenir, and those who finish will receive an additional commemorative gift.
Kangjin County aims for this festival to allow visitors to directly experience the ecological environment of Kangjin Bay and extend their stay in the area.
In particular, the festival seeks to provide children with environmental education through play while offering adults programs for relaxation in nature, catering to the tourism needs of different generations.
Kang Jin-won, the mayor of Kangjin County, stated, “This year’s Reed Festival is not just about looking at the reed fields; it’s a festival where families can run, create, and explore, fully experiencing the nature of Kangjin Bay. I hope children learn the value of nature and the environment through play, while adults can enjoy relaxation amidst the autumn scenery and create lasting memories with their families.”
Meanwhile, Kangjin Bay Ecological Park is a representative ecological tourism resource in Kangjin, where reed clusters and wetlands coexist. During the festival from October 24 to November 1, Kangjin County will operate various experience and exploration programs, promoting the ecological value of the reed fields while expanding visits from family tourists.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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