A painted pavilion and gazebo behind lotus leaves in evening light

Wonju Dumpling Festival Oct. 23–25: Mandu Along the Stream, Live Bands and a First Nakhwa Show

Published Oct 21, 2026

Why NOW picked itGood if you want dumplings plus a first-ever Nakhwa-nori and live bands in one trip. The sparks show opens the festival on Friday, and shuttles run from Wonju Station.

From Oct. 23 to 25, the Wonju Mandu Festival fills the Wonju Stream, Culture Street and the Jungang-dong traditional market in Gangwon Province. This year the opening night adds the festival's first Nakhwa-nori over the stream.

Nakhwa-nori opens the festival on Friday

Wonjucheon Nakhwa-nori is a first for the festival and starts with the Oct. 23 opening ceremony. The city and news reports describe it only as a programme that lights up the night over the stream; no start time has been given.

The opening itself is different too: fewer speeches, with citizens declaring the festival open together.

Two places to eat mandu

The Wonju Mandu Zone by the stream gathers 15 vendors picked after a tasting review. The Global Mandu Zone on Culture Street serves dumplings from around the world, and a separate zone sells hand-made mandu to take home.

To make your own, there is a mandu-making zone and a cooking class. Menus and prices at the stalls are on QR codes on site.

The evening stage line-up

Oct. 23 brings Kim Yeon-ja and Seodo Band; Oct. 24 AUX, Crying Nut and DJ Two Face. On Oct. 25 ambassador Chef Jung Ji-sun gives a live cooking show, followed by Kim Yong-bin and Harmonize.

The timetable has not been published yet, so check the official site before you go.

Speed-wrapping, tower-stacking, stamps

The contests include mandu speed-making and mandu-tower stacking. A market stamp tour, a receipt event and guided market exploration run alongside.

There is also a flea market, an arts zone and an AI-drawing booth, so it is not only about eating.

Take the shuttle from Wonju Station

Three shuttle routes connect Wonju City Hall, Wonju Station, the intercity bus terminal and the Dancing Performance Hall with the venue; routes and times go up on the city site just before the festival. Drivers can use a public lot and a temporary lot near the site.

Opening hours and admission were not stated on either official page. If you need an answer, call the Wonju City call centre at 033-742-2111.