As May — the month for families — arrives, festivals geared toward family visitors are popping up across the country. You’ll find everything from hands-on ecology events you can enjoy over the Children’s Day holiday to mid-May celebrations of arts, food and flowers.
First up, the 28th Hampyeong Butterfly Festival runs through May 5 at Hampyeong Expo Park in South Jeolla Province. This year’s theme, "Dreaming Butterfly, the Journey Begins," showcases exhibitions, interactive activities and performances built around flowers and butterflies. Highlights include indoor and outdoor butterfly releases, butterfly feeding, parades and live shows. On-site admission is paid: adults 7,000 KRW (about $5.25), youth and military 5,000 KRW (about $3.75), and kindergarteners, children and seniors 3,000 KRW (about $2.25).
In Boseong, also in South Jeolla, the Boseong Tea Festival runs through May 5. Now in its 49th year, the event celebrates Boseong’s tea culture. You can try tea-leaf picking, tea making, tea tasting and green-tea therapy — and best of all, admission is free.
Damyang’s Bamboo Festival runs through May 5 around Juknokwon and the Dambit Music Hall. With the slogan "Shine, Shine, Bamboo!" the festival offers bamboo crafts and activities, performances and illuminated night displays. General admission is free; Juknokwon charges a 3,000 KRW entry fee (about $2.25) but reimburses it in the form of a full-value payback coupon.
The Yeoncheon Paleolithic Festival runs through May 5 at the Jeongok-ri archaeological site in Yeoncheon. Centered on Paleolithic hands-on experiences, this family-friendly history festival charges 7,000 KRW for general admission (about $5.25) and 3,000 KRW for youth and children (about $2.25). General attendees receive a 5,000 KRW Yeoncheon gift certificate (about $3.75), and youth/children receive a 3,000 KRW certificate (about $2.25).
Miryang’s Arirang Festival takes place May 7–10 along Yeongnamnu Pavilion and the Miryang riverside in South Gyeongsang Province. Admission is free. The festival honors and develops Miryang Arirang — registered by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage — with an Arirang singing competition, traditional-culture workshops and a live multimedia performance titled Miryang River Odyssey.
The Seoul World City Culture Festival is set for May 9–10 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Open noon to 9 p.m. and free for all, the festival invites you to sample global culture and cuisine with world-music performances, traditional-costume try-ons, folk-game stations and international food and dessert zones.
The 2026 Busan Wheat Festival runs May 9–10 at Hwamyeong Eco Park in Buk-gu, Busan. Hosted by the city and organized by the Busan Festival Committee, it spotlights wheat-themed eats, a flea market, hands-on workshops and performances. A shaded food lounge under large canopies offers space to sample dishes and join participatory programs.
From May 15–18, Busan will also host the 2026 Haeundae Sand Festival at Haeundae Beach and Haeundae Square. This year's theme, "A Time-Traveling Journey Through Busan in Sand," features an international sand-sculpture exhibition, interactive workshops and live performances. The sand sculptures will remain on display through June 14.
The Gokseong World Rose Festival runs May 22–31 at the Seomjingang Train Village. The site includes a rose garden of roughly 75,000㎡ (about 807,300 sq ft / roughly 18.5 acres) showcasing 1,004 varieties of rare European roses and ornamental plants. Admission is charged; Gokseong residents, national-merit recipients and people with disabilities enter free.
In Chuncheon, the Chuncheon Mime Festival takes place May 24–31 under this year’s theme, "Bodyscape," at venues across the city. Events include the opening spectacle "Ah! Su Rajang," theater performances, walking mime shows and late-night street spectacles. Most programming is free, though theater performances and some special events require paid tickets.
May festivals can get especially crowded during the Children’s Day holiday and on weekends when families flock to events. Some hands-on programs require advance reservations or operate on a first-come, first-served basis; others charge admission or extra fees. Before you go, check official websites for hours, admission, parking and shuttle-bus information.
