Gwangju rings in Chuseok with folk games, mask dances and outdoor concerts

"Come enjoy the go-ssaum rope fight with your family this Chuseok holiday."

The South Jeolla-Gwangju integrated special city has lined up a range of cultural events for families to enjoy throughout the Chuseok holiday.

Traditional cultural experiences and performances will be held at the Gwangju National Museum, the Gwangju History and Folk Museum and the Gwangju National Science Museum.

The Gwangju Art Museum will present several exhibitions, including one tied to the Gwangju Biennale. District offices across the city are also hosting a variety of events, from go-ssaum rope fights to concerts and singing competitions.

The Gwangju History and Folk Museum will hold a two-day mask dance festival Saturday and Sunday, featuring traditional mask dance performances and a folk games area.

Over the same period, the Gwangju National Museum will run a Chuseok experience program. Visitors can take part in a "hip pot" craft workshop tied to a special exhibition, an SNS event centered on a moon jar said to grant wishes, and a special exhibition mission, among other activities. The hip pot workshop requires advance registration through the museum's website.

The Gwangju National Science Museum will hold a special Chuseok event Thursday and Saturday through Sunday. Visitors can try traditional folk games and activities including jegi-chagi (hacky sack), tuho (arrow toss), yutnori (stick toss), archery, traditional instruments, sangmo (hat ribbon spinning) and small drum playing. Sunday's program will also include a science experiment show and a cotton candy balloon performance.

The Gwangju Art Museum will run several exhibitions through Nov. 15, including an exchange show with Turin, Italy — "Adapted Landscape, Chapter 2: From Turin to Gwangju" — along with two pavilions linked to the 16th Gwangju Biennale: the Casino Luxembourg pavilion "The Day of the Mantis" and the Mongolian pavilion "The Eternal and the Distant: Collective Memory and Contemporary Challenges."

District offices have also prepared a range of cultural events.

In Nam-gu, the Ottdol Go-ssaum Moon-Greeting Festival will be held Thursday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the go-ssaum rope fight training center. The event will feature a go-ssaum performance alongside hands-on activities including rice cake making and grip tok crafting, as well as traditional games such as tuho, jegi-chagi and yutnori, and a QR quiz.

In Seo-gu, a Chuseok Moonlight Concert will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Naebang Children's Park, giving residents a chance to enjoy live music close to home.

In Buk-gu's Gakhwa Jugong complex, a small outdoor concert will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. A pre-show performance by the Gakhwa Daycare Center will be followed by a saxophone ensemble playing trot music, film soundtracks and popular songs.

In Gwangsan-gu, the 13th Samdo-dong Community Harmony Chuseok Singing Competition will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. on the grounds of Samdo Elementary School, featuring a pre-show performance, a ceremony, a resident singing contest and a celebratory performance.

From Friday through Sunday, Woljeong Park and Yongdong Park will host the Gwangsan-gu District Mayor Cup National Migrant Workers Football Tournament, with league and knockout-stage matches and an awards ceremony.

"For Chuseok, we have prepared a wide range of cultural events — from traditional cultural experiences to performances and exhibitions — so that residents and visitors returning home can enjoy the holiday with their families," said Shin Sin-ha, head of the cultural policy division. "We hope everyone will soak up the rich and joyful spirit of Chuseok at cultural venues throughout Gwangju."