CreatripTeam

Gangneung, a coastal city on Korea’s east coast, is celebrating autumn with two festivals running through November 2: the 17th Gangneung Coffee Festival along Anmok Beach’s coffee street and the 4th Gangneung Noodle Festival in the old downtown Wolhwa area. Once known for vending-machine coffee, Anmok has become a coffee hub with specialty shops and roasteries offering free tastings, busking, and evening programs like beach bonfires and fireworks. The noodle festival showcases local favorites—jang-kalguksu (spicy hand-cut noodle soup), makguksu (buckwheat noodles), jjambbong (spicy seafood noodle soup), and ongsimi-kalguksu (potato dumpling noodles)—plus hands-on activities, competitions, and family attractions. Both festivals emphasize community recovery after summer drought, support for local businesses (including a “noodle exploration” receipt campaign), accessibility (BF zone), and eco-friendly practices like reducing single-use items.