Gyeongsan jujube festival returns Oct. 16 for 3-day run

The city of Gyeongsan in North Gyeongsang Province will host the 15th Gyeongsan Jujube Festival & Agricultural Products Fair from Oct. 16 to 18 at Onmaru Square in Gyeongsan Life Sports Park, the city announced Friday.

Organized by the Gyeongsan Culture and Tourism Foundation and the Gyeongsan Jujube Festival Organizing Committee, this year's event carries the theme "Gyeongsan Jujube Gourmet Festa — A Royal Tribute."

Visitors can shop at a direct-trade market offering high-quality Gyeongsan jujubes and other locally grown specialty produce, alongside a range of cultural performances and tourist participation events.

The festival will feature themed booth zones inspired by royal tribute offerings — a fresh and dried jujube display, a processed jujube products section, a jujube cuisine spread, a snack and traditional liquor corner, and a dessert and beverage zone showcasing jujube-based sweets and drinks — highlighting the fruit's versatility and range of flavors.

Exhibition, hands-on experience, sales and promotional booths will also be on offer, rounding out the food and entertainment lineup.

On opening day, festivities kick off with a talk concert featuring poet Jang Seok-ju centered on his poem "One Jujube," followed by the opening ceremony. A golden jujube scratch-ticket lottery event, a Gyeongsan jujube special selection showcase and a trot music concert will follow.

On Saturday, a youth performance showcase and a jujube special selection event will take the stage, along with a pop music concert. On the final day, Sunday, the 17th Jungbang Nongak Festival — a national farmers' music competition — headlines the program, joined by a samulnori performance by traditional music artist Nam Sang-il and other attractions.

Cho Hyeon-il, chairman of the Gyeongsan Culture and Tourism Foundation, said the organization would do its utmost to ensure safety and convenience at the venue so that visitors could enjoy the festival with peace of mind, while also spreading the word about the outstanding taste and quality of Gyeongsan jujubes, long celebrated as a royal tribute product.