Gunsan Time Travel Festival 2026 Basics
If you are planning a trip to Gunsan, the best time to experience its modern-era streets is during the Gunsan Time Travel Festival. In 2026 it runs four days, October 2–5, and instead of only touring the history museum, the whole district comes alive with shows, missions and history activities you can join.
- Dates: Friday, October 2 – Monday, October 5, 2026
- Hours: 10:00–21:00
- Venue: Old City Hall Plaza and Gunsan Time Travel Village
- Admission: free (period costumes and some crafts are paid)
Why Go During the Festival
Gunsan packs modern-history landmarks into one walkable area: the Modern History Museum, the old customs house, the Modern Architecture Hall and the Japanese-style house in Sinheung-dong. On a normal day, kids can find old buildings a bit dull. During the festival, people in 1920s-style costumes fill the streets, kids play missions based on the independence movement and join a manse (independence) march. The history becomes a stage, which makes it far easier to tell the story.
Start with These Kids’ Programs
- Independence Missions: in “1919 Flag-Raising Operation,” teams race to raise the Korean flag while dodging “police,” plus team games like guarding the Declaration of Independence. Tell older kids about Gunsan’s March 5 independence movement first.
- “All of Us on March 5”: October 3–5, 14:50–15:30, visitors march together to reenact the 1919 Gunsan independence demonstration. Time your day for this one.
- Time Traveler’s Secret Passport: a paid treasure-hunt style mission across the grounds.
- Forest Adventure Playground: a kids-only space with rope and wooden bridges and hammocks, perfect for a break.
- Street Chalk Board and Craft Workshop: draw on the street, or make music boxes and clocks in the paid craft workshop.
Shows and Evening Programs
The opening ceremony is October 2 at 18:00, with the Navy band and honor guard, a “Global Modern” flash mob recreating the era when foreign cultures arrived in Gunsan, and the city arts troupe. Evening Time Travel Concerts feature Lyn and H1-KEY (October 2), Shin Ye-young and AtHeart (October 3), and Jeong Seo-ju and Yada (October 4). With kids: afternoon activities → March 5 march → dinner → street shows or concert. Allow at least three to four hours.
Dress Up in Period Costume
The paid period-costume rental at Nolmadang lets you walk to Chowon Photo Studio and the modern streets in character. Shoot in the real old alleys, not just at the festival booths.
Parking and Shuttles
Free shuttles run every 30 minutes, 10:00–21:00. Main lots:
- Modern History Museum: 200 cars
- Gunsan Fisheries Center: 145 cars
- Wolmyeong Stadium: 550 cars
- Eunpa Lake Park Lot 1: 234 cars
- Kunsan National University Lot 10: 168 cars
With kids, park on the outskirts and ride the shuttle rather than circling the old town.
Gunsan Sights Within Walking Distance
Most landmarks are inside the Time Travel Village, so no driving needed. Start at the Gunsan Modern History Museum, with maritime logistics, independence heroes and a recreated 1930s street. March–October hours are 09:00–18:00 (last entry 17:30), closed Mondays and January 1.
Jinpo Marine Theme Park displays retired military equipment and the ship Wibong, a nice change between buildings.
Chowon Photo Studio, filming location of Christmas in August, is small; stop for photos on your walk. Open daily, 09:00–18:00 on Mondays and 09:00–21:30 Tuesday to Sunday.
The Sinheung-dong Japanese-style house (the former Hirotsu house) is a registered heritage site showing how wealthy residents lived during the colonial era; talk about why such houses exist in Gunsan.
Our Family Plan
Our route: Modern History Museum → festival activities → March 5 march → old street walk → dinner and evening shows. For elementary kids, the Gunsan Time Travel Festival turns the independence movement and modern Gunsan into games, missions and street theater. It only runs four days, October 2–5, so if Gunsan is on your list, this is the time.
Dates, programs and prices in this guide are as of the 2026 edition. Check the official website for next year’s schedule before you go.
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Schedules and prices can change, so check the VISITKOREA official tourism site before you go.