Exploring the 2026 Goyang Autumn Flower Festival
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
[Reporter: An Ju-hyung]
The 2026 Goyang Autumn Flower Festival was held at the Theme Plaza of Ilsan Lake Park from October 1 to 11, showcasing a vibrant array of autumn flowers and plants. This year’s festival featured outdoor exhibitions, photo zones, a flower market, and cultural events. As I explored the site, I noticed not only the beautifully arranged flower beds but also pondered where all these flowers and plants came from and how they connect to the daily lives of citizens after the festival.
The theme of this year's festival was 'Autumn Palette.' Inspired by a story where Goyang's mascot, Goyang Cat, transforms the garden with various autumn colors, the Theme Plaza was filled with chrysanthemums, goldenrods, and other autumn plants. Visitors could easily spot the different colored chrysanthemums ranging from yellow to orange and purple, as well as people walking through the flower beds or taking pictures.
In the main garden, a giant Goyang Cat sculpture over 5 meters tall caught the eye, standing out among the sprawling chrysanthemums.
This year's festival utilized flowers and plants produced directly by local flower farmers in Goyang. Knowing that the flowers filling the festival were locally sourced gave the garden a different perspective, as it became a landscape created by flowers grown in the community. This connection did not end at the garden.
A flower market featuring various local flower farms was set up on one side of the event area. Each booth offered a variety of small pots, succulents, and foliage plants. While visitors enjoyed the completed garden in the flower beds, here they had the chance to select plants and ask sellers questions.
At the flower market, visitors were seen closely examining pots and choosing their favorite plants. This festival allowed attendees to go beyond merely viewing flowers and taking photos; they could also select and purchase plants, fostering a connection between the flowers seen at the festival and the homes of citizens.
The event also featured a 'Visiting Plant Hospital' where attendees could receive guidance on plant care. It is common for home gardeners to struggle with wilting leaves or pest issues without knowing the cause. At the event, they could consult about their plant-related questions and gather necessary care information.
Moreover, the flower festival extended beyond the garden. A flower-decorated pedal boat was available at Ilsan Lake Park, allowing visitors to enjoy the festival uniquely by riding on the lake.
As we look forward to the 30th anniversary of the Goyang International Flower Exhibition in 2027, a space was also created to celebrate this milestone. Messages and drawings left by visitors filled the walls, blending the stories of citizens who enjoy seasonal flowers with the long history of the local flower industry.
Upon entering the festival, the vibrant flower beds were the first thing to catch the eye. However, a closer look revealed that the flowers were grown by local flower farms, creating an autumn garden and facilitating direct interactions between farmers and citizens at the flower market. The plant hospital offered insights on how to keep flowers and plants thriving at home.
This journey through the festival showed that the Autumn Flower Festival is more than just a display of beautiful flowers for a few days. It serves as a space for local flower producers and citizens to connect, with the interest sparked at the festival leading back to everyday encounters with flowers and plants.
Though the autumn flower festival that colored Ilsan Lake Park for 11 days has concluded, the interest in the flowers and plants encountered at the festival will likely continue. Reconnecting with a flower or plant grown locally in everyday life could be a small yet meaningful way to engage more closely with Goyang's flower culture and local flower industry.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/gyeonggi_gov/224439996436
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