Uiseong Superfood Garlic Festival to open Oct. 3

Uiseong-gun in North Gyeongsang Province will host the 2026 Uiseong Superfood Garlic Festival & Sky Defense Run in Uiseong from Oct. 3 to 5 at Gubong Park along the Namdaecheon stream in Uiseong-eup, the county announced Tuesday.

The three-day event will open with a percussion performance featuring 100 residents across different age groups, marking the 30th Uiseong County Day on Oct. 5.

The festival also features programs centered on residents and tourists alike. A superfood cooking competition will pit participants against one another using Uiseong garlic and local agricultural products, while a talent contest — the Uiseong Superstar competition — gives residents a stage to show off their skills. Local artists will also perform at Uiseong In Stage, creating a space where residents and visitors can mingle.

More than 20 booths selling local agricultural and specialty products will operate alongside a direct garlic market. On-site parcel delivery, a porter delivery system and a local gift voucher exchange will be available for visitors' convenience.

Food stalls offering the flavors of Uiseong will round out the experience, with Banolim Pizza and Lotte Wellfood — both companies that have signed MOUs with Uiseong-gun — joining the lineup. Crown-Haitai Confectionery will run a hands-on activity where visitors can shape a garlic-themed figure using snacks. A dedicated grilling zone will also let festivalgoers cook and eat meat purchased on the grounds.

"We hope this festival will serve as a platform to showcase the true value of Uiseong garlic, one of Korea's finest," Uiseong County Chief Choi Yu-cheol said. "We look forward to residents and visitors alike savoring the tastes and charm of Uiseong through wholesome food and a diverse range of programs."