Eunpyeong-gu to hold 'Muchalbaldaero Festival' on Sunday

Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul will transform a 950-meter stretch of Jinheung-ro — between Yeokchon Station and Eungam Station — into a car-free street on Sunday for the second annual Eunpyeong Muchalbaldaero Festival, the district announced Monday.

The festival bills itself as the nation's largest on-road event, converting all seven lanes of the 950-meter Jinheung-ro corridor into an open street plaza where residents can walk, rest and enjoy activities freely. Now in its second year, the festival grew out of a car-free day event held in the name of carbon neutrality.

This year's festival grounds will be divided into five zones: a main stage, a green path, a mindful path, a laughter path and a market path.

The main stage will host a military band street march, an opening ceremony and resident performances. The green path will feature carbon-neutrality experience activities and a pet-friendly space, along with a "wind road" cycling lane where visitors can ride bicycles freely on the street.

The mindful path will offer craft workshops, sales booths, library programs and a toy repair clinic. The laughter path will be set up as a play zone for children, with arcade games and bounce houses, while the market path will showcase food from local merchants and a direct-trade market featuring sister cities.

The section of Jinheung-ro between Yeokchon Station and Eungam Station will be closed to vehicle traffic from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. that day, with city buses and community buses rerouted around the area.

"I hope everyone — from children to residents with pets — will spend a special day mingling with neighbors on the car-free street," District Mayor Kim Mi-kyung said.