Come out and play this chuseok! Songpa-gu packed with things to see and do all holiday long

Songpa-gu in Seoul will offer a lineup of cultural outings for families from Sept. 24 to 27, coinciding with the Chuseok holiday.

Residents need not travel far to enjoy a full holiday — the festivities are all within the district.

The holiday kicks off Thursday with the World Dance Festival, a side event of the 35th National Dance Festival. Folk dance troupes from Argentina, Russia, Bulgaria, Panama and other countries will perform at The Sphere at 3 p.m. and at Seoul Nori Madang at 6 p.m.

The dance celebrations continue Friday, Chuseok itself, with a performance at the waterside stage on the west side of Seokchon Lake at 5 p.m., offering families a festive holiday evening.

The focus shifts to Seoul Nori Madang on Saturday and Sunday for the "2026 Chuseok Hangawi Family Festival." On Saturday at 3 p.m., Jeolkkun — a young folk music group selected through the district's youth artist support program, The Impact — will perform samulnori, hanlyang-mu, the Samnak Boat Song and gyobang gut-geori.

At the same time on Sept. 27, the Gwangju Municipal Gwangjiwon Nongak Troupe will keep the festive spirit alive with traditional performances including an Arirang medley, and soe, buk, janggu and sogo percussion play.

Hands-on activities for children will run at Seoul Nori Madang from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with traditional folk games including yutnori, jegichagi, tuho and rolling-hoop. Families can drop in freely before or after performances to experience Korean folk culture firsthand.

Visitors can also take in an exhibition stroll along Seokchon Lake. The Gallery Lake will host "Lake Animal Art," an exhibition for children and families featuring roughly 100 works — detailed illustrations, sculpture, installation art and paintings on an animal theme — through Oct. 25.

At the cultural experiment space Hosu, the youth artist open-call exhibition "Somewhere, We Are" runs from Sept. 22 through Oct. 4. Artist Jo Eun-hyeok, selected through the district's The Impact youth artist support program, presents illustrations and paintings on the theme of childhood innocence lost through socialization. During the Chuseok holiday, the venue will also offer hands-on programs including firefly-making, a Chuseok table-setting activity and a family portrait drawing session. The exhibition facility will be closed Thursday, Chuseok Day.

Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Gang-seok said he hopes residents will use the holiday to create special memories by enjoying performances, exhibitions and traditional games close to home. "We will continue offering diverse cultural programs so that all residents can enjoy arts and culture in their everyday lives," he said.