Now In Korea
Enjoy Autumn: Andong International Mask Dance Festival Celebrates Masks and Music
Creatrip Team
a month ago
The Andong International Mask Dance Festival, held Sept 26–Oct 5 in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, showcased traditional Korean mask dances (talchum) and international performances across the city. Centered on Hahoe Village — a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the Hahoe Byeolsingut Talnori ritual (a shamanic mask play) — the festival opened with the ritual’s gāngsin scene and offered roaming performances, museum exhibits of Korean and global masks (hahoemasks), and large-scale outdoor stages at Mask Dance Park near Andong Station. About 200 domestic and international groups performed under this year’s theme “Dancing Masks, Seeking Diverse Faces,” including regional Korean pieces like Gasan Ogwangdae and acts from Türkiye, Thailand, Bolivia, and Italy. Interactive programs invited visitors to try dancing in masks, make and wear masks, and view creative mask contests. Local food specialties such as Andong-style mulhoe with sweet rice punch (sikhye) and mackerel gimbap added culinary appeal. The festival’s highlight was the inclusive parade and community dance, uniting performers, residents, and tourists for joyful autumn nights. The article also recommends three other fall festivals: Bear Tree Park autumn foliage, Goheung Yuzu Festival (yuzu farming and experiences), and Goseong Dinosaur Expo for families.
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