26 volunteer and experience booths to run Sept. 5 below Yeongdong 3rd Bridge on Yangjae Stream, drawing about 3,300 residents
Gangnam-gu will host the "2026 Yangjae Stream Picnic Volunteer Festival" on Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. below Yeongdong 3rd Bridge on Yangjae Stream, bringing together about 3,300 district residents.
Now in its 12th year, the festival is themed "Gangnam Strong, Volunteering Fun" and is organized and enjoyed jointly by Gangnam-gu volunteer organizations, partner institutions, businesses and residents as a community sharing event.
As of August, about 90,000 Gangnam-gu residents are registered volunteers, and the district has ranked first in volunteer participation rate among Seoul's 25 autonomous districts for four consecutive years. Through this event, the district plans to spread awareness of the meaning and joy of volunteering to more residents while offering a range of hands-on experiences centered on everyday carbon neutrality, energy conservation and safety.
A total of 26 experience and volunteer booths will operate at the venue, featuring keycap keyring crafting using bottle caps, upcycled hair tie making from discarded clothing, Yangjae Stream species management, seasonal flower giveaways, balloon art sharing, bicycle repair and CPR training.
Donation activities promoting resource recycling will also take place. Residents can donate unused items — including old clothes, umbrellas, eco bags, bottle caps and eyeglass frames — which will be transformed into upcycled products through creative reuse.
A resident-led "Beautiful Market" flea market will also be held. Twenty-five teams selected through advance registration will sell secondhand goods, with some of the proceeds donated to the Gangnam Welfare Foundation to carry forward the spirit of sharing.
This year's festival has grown into a public-private collaborative volunteer event, with the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, Posco and Caffeine Addiction Co. contributing through program participation and sponsorship.
No advance registration is required — any district resident is welcome to visit the venue on the day. Further details are available on the Gangnam-gu Volunteer Center website.
Gangnam-gu District Mayor Kim Hyun-ki said he hopes the festival will serve as a meaningful occasion to reflect on the value of volunteering and encourage one another's efforts. "We will continue to develop diverse volunteer content so that more residents can take part in sharing and service," he said.
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