Table of Contents
- Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival opens on April 10... Fireworks cancellation, summary of food, schedule, location, invited performers, and parking
- The history and significance of the Gaya Culture Festival
- Basic information about Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival, festival dates and locations
- Information on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival
- Main programs and schedule
- Facilities and parking guide
- Conclusion
Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival opens on April 10... Fireworks cancellation, summary of food, schedule, location, invited performers, and parking
The 2025 Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival will be grandly held over four days from April 10 to 13 in Gimhae. Celebrating its 63rd year, this festival has the theme of 'Gaya, a city of glocalization for 2000 years,' inviting visitors to reflect on the splendid history and culture of Gaya in a modern way. Many will be able to feel the charm of Gaya through this special festival.
Due to the recent damage caused by large forest fires, the fireworks events scheduled for April 11 and 13 during the opening and closing ceremonies have been canceled. The organizing committee, Gaya Cultural Festival and Event Committee, stated this decision intends to honor those who suffered significant damage and the unfortunate victims.
They also conveyed their hope for public understanding of the situation and a speedy recovery of the affected areas. Although this decision leaves a sense of regret for the event, it is a choice to preserve more important values.
The history and significance of the Gaya Culture Festival
The Gaya Culture Festival is a representative cultural event hosted by Gimhae City, established to inherit and develop the iron culture and maritime trade heritage of Geumgwan Gaya.
Gaya was founded in 42 AD by King Kim Suro and formed a brilliant culture as a trade center of Northeast Asia for about 500 years. Notably, the marriage with Princess Heo Hwang-ok of Ayutthaya in India is recognized as the first recorded international marriage in the history of the Korean Peninsula.
This festival has established itself as an important event to commemorate the history and culture of Gaya.
To commemorate its long history, Gimhae City combined the 'Garak Cultural Festival' which started in 1962 with the 'Gaya World Cultural Festival' in 2007 to develop it into the current 'Gaya Culture Festival.' This festival is held annually on the 15th day of the lunar calendar's third month as a multifaceted cultural event that harmonizes tradition and modernity. It serves as an opportunity to widely promote the local cultural heritage.
Basic information about Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival, festival dates and locations
The event will take place from April 10 to April 13, 2025. Major venues include Gimhae Su-ryungwon, Daeseong-dong Tombs, Street of Gaya, Gimhae Folk Museum, and Guhijong. The remarkable aspect is that all events are open for free.
This festival is organized in cooperation with Gimhae City and the Gaya Cultural Festival and Event Committee, along with the Gimhae Cultural Tourism Foundation. Various programs such as parades, performances, and experience booths are prepared to welcome visitors joyfully.
Additionally, the Gaya Wish Lanterns, Media Facade, and nighttime lights installed throughout the city will further enhance the festive atmosphere and attract visitors' attention. With such rich preparations, this festival promises to provide many unforgettable experiences for all.
Information on the opening and closing ceremonies of the Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival
The opening and closing ceremonies of the 2025 Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival are important events for introducing and concluding the festival. This official program, held at the Su-ryungwon special stage, is gathering great expectations from the audience with diverse thematic performances and congratulatory stages by famous singers.
However, due to the recent forest fires and considering the social atmosphere, the scheduled fireworks events have all been canceled. Instead, this space will be filled with special performances that embody the spirit of Gaya culture. Such changes are expected to deepen the significance of the festival.
▶ Opening Ceremony
Date: April 11, 2025 (Friday) at 7 PM
Location: Su-ryungwon special stage, Gimhae
The ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of the integration of city and county will be held as 'Glocal Gimhae Declaration.' The thematic performance will convey the message of integration through the meeting of King Suro and Heo Hwang-ok, showcasing a fusion performance of various genres such as traditional drumming, media art, b-boying, and traditional dance.
Celebrating performances will be presented by Team H, Emprism, Seong Min-ji, and Park Ji-hyun.
▶ Closing Ceremony
Date: April 13, 2025 (Sunday) at 7 PM
Location: Su-ryungwon special stage, Gimhae
A finale performance will mark the end of this festival. After four days of various event activities, a highlight stage with citizens is planned.
Beforehand, a pre-show will be performed by Byeolsin, and Na Geon-pil, Ai-mond, and Soon Soon-hee will take the stage to enhance the atmosphere.
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The fireworks planned for the opening and closing ceremonies have been completely canceled.
It should be noted.
This festival aims to provide emotional experiences through rich cultural performances and artistic messages, instead of dazzling fireworks. It is expected to leave a more meaningful memory for the audience.
Main programs and schedule
1. Official events
The Goryeo Ritual and Honbul Lighting will be conducted on April 10, Thursday, at 1 PM at Guhijong. During this event, offerings will be made to ancestors, and the Honbul will be lit to bless the main stage.
The opening ceremony and congratulatory performances will take place on April 11, Friday, at 7 PM on the main stage of Su-ryungwon. There will be a ceremony commemorating the 30th anniversary of city-county integration and a thematic performance planned.
Finally, the closing ceremony and performance will be held on April 13, Sunday, at 7 PM on the main stage of Su-ryungwon. The event will officially end after the congratulatory performance.
Please note that the fireworks show planned for both events has been canceled.
2. Featured programs
The parade of King Suro will take place throughout Gimhae City from April 10 to 13. This event will vividly recreate the encounter between King Suro and Heo Hwang-ok.
Additionally, there will be a fantastic night performance called Gaya Fantasia in the vicinity of the tombs, alongside the Rhythm of Gaya large media performance to decorate the festival's eve.
The Gimhae Food Expo will attract much interest as a food festival where visitors can directly experience local specialties and the Nine Delicacies of Gimhae.
Furthermore, various programs will be available for citizens to participate in, such as Gaya Treasure Hunt, Gaya Martial Arts Competition, Superstar G, and Youth Busking Contest. These events will provide joy to both local residents and tourists.
3. Traditional culture experience
At the Gaya Experience Booth, visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as artifact excavation, crown making, experiencing Gaya clothing, shell art, and paper character making.
The Gaya Family Lounge features a playground for children and various tasty spots in Gimhae, along with a flea market, making it suitable for family visitors.
The Ssangseonjeon Chunhyang Ceremony will be conducted on April 12, Saturday, at 11 AM at the tomb of King Suro, recognized as Intangible Cultural Asset No. 11 of Gyeongnam.
Facilities and parking guide
A public parking lot located near the Gimhae Folk Museum, Su-ryungwon, and Daeseong-dong Tombs will operate during the festival period. Additionally, temporary parking lots will be set up, and shuttle bus services and traffic control information will be provided. Real-time traffic information can be checked through the official Gimhae City website or festival's social media.
Moreover, the festival site will be equipped with amenities such as a medical support center, stroller rental stations, rest areas, and restrooms, allowing families to enjoy comfortably.
Conclusion
The 2025 Gimhae Gaya Culture Festival is expected to shine brightly even without fireworks.
Although the fireworks show has been canceled, a variety of traditional performances, programs in which citizens can participate, and diverse events to experience Gaya's history and culture are prepared.
It is hoped that visitors will feel the essence of Gaya in the historically rich Gimhae and create precious memories of spring days.
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