Experience the 2026 Yeongju Sobaeksan Azalea Festival: A Family-Friendly Spring Celebration

Translation result. [Herald Economy (Yeongju) = Kim Byung-jin] The 2026 Yeongju Sobaeksan Azalea Festival — the region’s signature spring celebration — returns May 23–24 across the Sobaeksan area and at the Punggi Ginseng Culture Pop-up Park.

On May 14, Yeongju City said this year’s festival has been reimagined as a restful, stay-and-relax healing tourism event. It mixes performances, hands-on experiences, chill-out spots, and local eats — moving well beyond a hiking-focused outing.

Branded “An Azalea Festival You Can Enjoy Without Hiking Boots,” the event is designed to welcome families and casual visitors who don’t plan to climb the mountain. Organizers also beefed up interactive programming that links the Sobaeksan and Punggi venues.

Across the Sobaeksan area, visitors can take part in the Jukjuk rite, stroll the historic Jukryeong Old Road, or try the new Sobaeksan Azalea Road Trekking. Debuting this year, the Azalea Road Trekking offers three routes: an end-to-end exploration, a relaxed scenic walk, and a soothing forest-healing trail.

At the Punggi Ginseng Culture Pop-up Park, a lineup of family-friendly workshops and performances is aimed squarely at kids and parents looking for hands-on fun.

A highlight is KidZania at the Azalea Festival, where children can try career-themed activities — from C.S.I. and a veterinary clinic to banking, dentistry, a magic school, and an architecture studio — giving them a playful peek at future possibilities.

Throughout the grounds, azalea-themed experiences and photo spots pop up everywhere: four-shot photo booths, azalea fashion tattoos, keyring-making workshops, and azalea bead keyring sessions, to name a few.

The performance schedule is just as lively. On May 23, expect a fantasy bubble show, balloon art, busking by Song Mi-hae and Oh Ye-rin, and the Yeongju Sobaek Azalea Choir. On May 24, the entertainment continues with a cotton-candy performance, the Dreaming Magic Show, and more busking from Park Bong-soon and Seo Ye-an.

Acting Mayor Eom Tae-hyun said, “We put together a wide range of programs for residents and visitors to enjoy right when the Sobaeksan azaleas are at their peak. We hope everyone soaks in Sobaeksan’s stunning nature and Yeongju’s unique cultural tourism offerings and makes special spring memories.”