Baudeogi Festival Basics
The 2026 Anseongmachum Namsadang Baudeogi Festival runs October 2–5 at Anseongmachum Land and along Anseongcheon stream. Entry is free, and it is less a festival of a few shows than a full day of traditional Korean culture. With elementary kids, you can watch tightrope walking, plate spinning and drumming up close, try activities by day and enjoy the lights at night. The 2026 theme: “Baudeogi, Joseon’s First Idol, Shakes the World.”
- Dates: Friday, October 2 – Monday, October 5, 2026, 10:00–21:00
- Main venue: Anseongmachum Land, 198 Namsadang-ro, Bogae-myeon, Anseong
- Admission: free (activities and food paid separately)
On October 1, a street parade (19:00–20:00) runs from the old dawn market to Naehyehol Plaza, followed by an eve concert from 20:00 to 22:00.
Why Go: Namsadang Nori
The heart of the festival is namsadang nori, a traveling troupe performance of pungmul drumming, plate spinning, acrobatics, tightrope walking, masked dance and puppetry, listed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. Anseong is deeply tied to it, and the festival is named after Baudeogi, the legendary female leader of a namsadang troupe. Hearing the kkwaenggwari gong and watching acrobatics in person brings textbook culture to life.
Kids’ Activities
Programs run daily 10:00–19:00: the Baudeogi theme park, Baudeogi Culture, carbon-neutral recycling activities, farming culture and K-hanbok and beauty. A light festival is planned at the waterside park. Do not stack shows back to back: one show → an activity → snacks → another show.
Farming activities are in the old market area and hanbok programs in the theme park, so check the map.
Don’t Skip the Old Anseong Market
Anseong was once home to a major market town, and the festival recreates it with the Anseong culture market festa. Kids enjoy the old-market scenes, and it is a relaxed stroll between shows. Build your day around namsadang shows, activities and the market.
More Than Namsadang
Guest troupes from Korea and abroad perform, and “The Next Baudeogi” searches for young artists to carry on her spirit.
Preliminaries are October 2–3 at the Anseongcheon stage, with finals October 4 on the main stage, spanning gugak, nongak and traditional dance plus bands, vocals, fusion gugak, street dance and musicals. The closing ceremony is October 5, 19:00–20:30, with fusion gugak and drumming.
Stay for the Evening
The Baudeogi light festival at the waterside park makes evenings worth it; the wide lawns and water look very different at night. If energy allows: afternoon activities → dinner → night festival.
Shuttle Buses Before Parking
Shuttles run from Hankyong National University (09:30–22:00), Anseongmachum Art Hall, the sports complex and Bogae-myeon (09:50–22:00) and Gongdo-eup (09:20–22:00), plus an internal loop (10:00–22:00). On weekends, use the shuttles; Anseong runs a live page with parking, traffic and stop info. Losing 30–40 minutes to parking drains kids before you even arrive.
Nearby Anseong Stops
Anseong Farmland lets kids see and feed animals on wide meadows. Anseongmachum Museum (free, 09:00–18:00, closed Mondays) shows Anseong brassware and local culture. Seoil Farm, known for traditional sauces and rows of crocks, suits a slower pace. Pick one: Farmland or the museum, then the Baudeogi Festival.
Suggested Route with Kids
Arrive 1–2 p.m. → theme park and activities → old market → namsadang show → dinner → waterside light festival → head home around 8 p.m. Check the day’s schedule for tightrope times and plan backward.
FAQ
- When? October 2–5, with the parade and eve concert on October 1.
- Entry fee? Free; activities and food extra.
- What should kids do? Namsadang shows, the theme park, farming and hanbok activities.
- Must-see? Namsadang nori: drumming, tightrope, acrobatics, plate spinning, masks and puppets.
- Parking? Expect weekend crowds; use the shuttles.
The Baudeogi Festival knows exactly what it wants to show. For families who want kids to experience Korean culture naturally, it is a great October day out: Anseong Farmland or the museum in the morning, the festival in the afternoon.
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.