Exploring the 30th Ulsan Whale Festival
- Original source
- blog.naver.com
If I had to choose just one autumn festival in Ulsan, it would always be the Jangsaengpo Whale Festival.
This year marks the 30th anniversary, so I was even more curious and decided to visit on the last day, Sunday, October 18th.
The venue was decorated with a "30th Birthday Party" theme, fitting for its milestone. Although the sky was cloudy all day, it didn't rain, making it a pleasant day for walking around.
This year's theme was "The Invitation of Whales, 30th Birthday Party." It beautifully captured the transformation of Jangsaengpo from a whaling center to an ecological city where whales and humans coexist, making it feel like a true birthday celebration.
Let’s take a closer look at the festival.
A monorail passed over the signpost leading to the Jangsaengpo Whale Culture Village. The monorail was operating during the festival, and it seemed fun to overlook the event from above.
On the last day, part of the road was closed to traffic for the afternoon parade, so walking through the usually busy road felt quite strange.
At the entrance of the event, the "Jangsaengpo Sunset Path" sculpture welcomed visitors, featuring whale characters that symbolize Jangsaengpo on an orange floor representing the sunset.
Next to it was a map of the entire Whale Culture Special Zone, showing the locations of the Whale Museum, Ecological Experience Center, Whale Culture Village, and monorail. I took a photo of the map to refer back to as the venue was larger than expected, with multiple programs happening simultaneously.
In front of the Whale Museum, a whale character named Jangsaeng greeted guests amid a sea of yellow chrysanthemums that announced the arrival of autumn.
The photo zone with the sign "2026 30th Ulsan Whale Festival" was beautifully decorated with silver grass and chrysanthemums, creating a perfect autumn atmosphere. I waited a moment to take my picture as many people were lining up.
The street lined with blue tent booths was fun to walk through, filled with families with strollers and groups of friends. The festival atmosphere was vibrant!
I stopped by a perfume sampling booth, where small glass bottles with wooden caps were lined up, allowing visitors to enjoy the fun of smelling each scent.
There was also a flea market featuring handmade accessories, local shops, and crafts.
The first food booth that caught my eye was "Taste of the World on Whale Back," featuring food from various countries like China, Japan, and Thailand. The prices were quite reasonable for a festival.
The delicious aroma of freshly cooked food was irresistible, and I couldn't resist trying a plate of yakisoba.
What I appreciated most about this festival was that all booths accepted card payments, making it convenient without the usual cash-only hassles often found at local festivals.
There were tables near the food truck zone, making it easy to enjoy meals.
A particularly popular booth was "Homak," which sold hotteok (sweet pancakes) and beer. I tried it, and it was delicious!
For a proper meal, I headed to the large tent food market called "Whale Table." A banner with a whale design hung above the entrance.
Inside, tables seemed endless, but it was surprisingly difficult to find an empty seat due to the crowd. Finding a spot during lunchtime was an effort!
Most booths were operated by local organizations in Ulsan. The Korea Octagonal Association's Ulsan branch mentioned that proceeds would support veterans' families, and they were also distributing food to the first 100 seniors over 80.
Knowing that what I was eating contributed to a good cause made me feel great.
I enjoyed a simple meal of banquet noodles topped with seaweed and chive pancakes. The noodles were served with a savory sauce, chives, and scrambled eggs, while the pancakes were thin and crispy.
After lunch, I walked towards the pier where the Whale Sea Travel Ship was docked, open for free exploration during the festival. It was a great opportunity for children to explore the ship.
Next to it was the Ulsan Taehwa, an autonomous sailing ship I had never seen before, which I would love to ride one day.
On the deck next to the pier, the "Whale Riding Challenge" was taking place, a fun program that made everyone laugh. Children climbed onto a whale-shaped inflatable and tried to hold on like a rodeo.
Many people were in line, and even adults were eager to participate, so I thought I might try it next time.
A visit to Jangsaengpo wouldn’t be complete without the Whale Museum and the Whale Ecological Experience Center. However, due to safety concerns, the Whale Ecological Explanation sessions were not held during the festival weekend.
The dolphin relief on the exterior wall of the Whale Ecological Experience Center always amazes me with its size, depicting bronze dolphins swimming along the wall.
The main performance area of the Ulsan Whale Festival, the Shrimp Square, hosted various performances on Sunday. The schedule was packed with entertainment, including magic shows, children's musicals, and live local music.
There was no shortage of events, and I loved that the programs encouraged interaction.
The performance of the tall clown began, engaging children and announcing the upcoming parade.
So, I quickly found a spot to watch the parade.
The highlight of the last day was the Whale Parade, starting at 4 PM. Before it began, the sides of the road were lined with spectators, and the buildings above were filled with onlookers.
With the announcer's commentary, fireworks signaled the start of the parade.
The first to arrive was a whale bus wrapped in festival decorations, capturing everyone's attention with its whale and wave designs.
Following closely, the tall clown entertained the crowd, enhancing the festive atmosphere.
When the bagpipe band passed by, the mood shifted to a more exotic feel, followed by a marching band adding rhythm to the parade.
The student taekwondo demonstration team paused in the middle of the road to showcase their breaking skills, receiving continuous applause from the audience.
The 30th-anniversary whale parade car also passed by, decorated with waves and whales, prominently displaying the number "2026" as a birthday cake representation.
Large balloon puppets shaped like a tiger, scarecrow, and girl waved at the audience, drawing the best reactions from children.
A team in orange basketball uniforms marched while high-fiving the audience.
The most memorable part of the parade was the fire performance, where performers walked slowly with devices resembling peacock wings, their flames vividly visible against the cloudy sky.
Some performers waved flaming torches, while others passed by shooting sparks, allowing the heat to be felt up close.
The finale featured a marching band in orange uniforms with feathered hats, filling the road with the sounds of drums and brass, making the wait worthwhile.
The day was truly filled with sights and experiences worthy of its 30th milestone. From photo zones and booths in the morning to the Whale Table for lunch, and the parade in the afternoon, time flew by.
While the crowd was unavoidable, the unique whale-themed scenery only found in Jangsaengpo made it a festival worth visiting for both Ulsan citizens and travelers alike. I hope to arrive early for the 31st Ulsan Whale Festival to experience the fairy tale concert and the whale riding challenge!
Source :https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224449842258
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