[TourKorea=Reporter Yu Ji-hoon] Geochang is offering more than just spring flower viewing — it’s staging a healing-style spring festival where visitors can walk, rest, and reconnect with nature. Geochang County in South Gyeongsang will host its signature spring tourism event, the 2026 Geochang ON Spring Festival, at Geochang Changpo Garden from the 14th through the 17th for four days.
This large-scale spring event brings together the formerly separate Geochang Arimia Flower Festival and Geochang Hansan Sansam Festival into one fresh showcase. The program is designed so visitors can enjoy spring blooms and local specialty experiences in one spot, with an emphasis on nature-based healing and longer, stay-focused tourism offerings.
Geochang Arimia Flower Festival and Geochang Hansan Sansam Festival to be held together
This year, the 7th Geochang Arimia Flower Festival and the 7th Geochang Hansan Sansam Festival will run side by side. Set against the scenic backdrop of Geochang Changpo Garden, visitors can take in spring’s floral beauty while sampling the region’s signature mountain-cultivated ginseng (sansam).
Geochang County plans to move beyond a passive, look-and-leave format. The festival is set up to encourage hands-on participation and longer stays, with a variety of interactive programs tailored for families, couples, and travelers with pets.
There will be no separate opening ceremony. At Geochang Changpo Garden, a schedule of programs and performances centered on flowers, nature, health, and healing will run throughout the festival, allowing visitors to soak up the spring scenery and enjoy activities at a relaxed pace.
From barefoot walks to silent yoga — healing experiences at Changpo Garden
The headline event is the 3rd Changpo Garden Barefoot Walk, where participants stroll the garden’s natural trails barefoot to soothe both body and mind. The route follows spring-filled paths through Changpo Garden and taps into the recent barefoot-walking trend, so it’s expected to draw plenty of interest.
Festival organizers are also opening a Healing & Changpo ZONE, a dedicated space designed for resting and lingering in nature. There, visitors can fully absorb the garden’s blend of blooms and lush greenery.
Meditation-style offerings are another highlight. Programs include silent yoga, which minimizes noise so participants can tune into the sounds of nature, and the No-Thoughts Challenge, an intensive meditation session meant to quiet the mind. These activities layer wellness and restorative moments on top of a classic spring outing.
Pets welcome — Pet Companion Festa and plenty of interactive events
The festival will include a Pet Companion Festa so visitors can bring their pets along. With pet-friendly travel on the rise, Geochang County aims to create a welcoming environment where families and their animals can relax together and get the most out of their spring outing.
Interactive visitor events will add an exploratory element. Activities such as Find Geochang’s Spring (Treasure), a stamp tour, and a healing-stamp program encourage guests to roam the grounds and participate rather than passively watch performances.
Sansam-related programming remains a major draw. On-site sansam auctions and hands-on experiences will run alongside local artists’ performances to enrich the festival atmosphere.
A Geochang County official said, “We designed this festival so visitors can stay in nature and experience healing and relaxation, not just view flowers. We hope people will use all their senses to feel Geochang’s unique charm alongside Changpo Garden’s beautiful spring scenery.”
