The Jindo County in South Jeolla Province has welcomed visitors with vibrant chrysanthemums as it kicks off the Bobaesum Chrysanthemum Festival from November 5 to 15.
This year's festival, themed "Chrysanthemums Blooming on Bobaesum, Becoming a Fairy Tale," is designed as a collaborative event involving local farmers and residents.
Notably, of the 160,000 chrysanthemums featured in the festival, 120,000 were directly produced by local farmers, accounting for 75% of the total. This initiative aims to enhance farmers' income while supporting the festival's operations.
The county has facilitated local farmers in cultivating and supplying chrysanthemums, ensuring community involvement from the preparation stages.
The main venue, Jindo Dog Theme Park, has been transformed into a space where chrysanthemums and fairy tale narratives intertwine. Visitors can explore a story-themed exhibition area, showcasing approximately 500 chrysanthemum sculptures and 100 bonsai displays, providing a picturesque autumn experience.
Chrysanthemum displays have also been set up at key locations in Jindo-eup. At Cheolma Plaza, chrysanthemums are arranged around flower beds, while the Local Cultural Center features a display linked to the county's day celebrations, spreading the festive atmosphere throughout the region.
During the weekends of the festival, various cultural performances and hands-on programs will be available. Special programs for families with children will be highlighted from November 13 to 15, featuring magic shows, street performances, and special stages by local children's performance teams, along with a kids' EDM event.
The county has structured the festival program to ensure that family visitors can enjoy both the chrysanthemum displays and the performances.
After the festival concludes, visitors will still have the opportunity to enjoy the chrysanthemums during a separate "outings period" from November 16 to 22, allowing them to savor the autumn blooms.
Lee Jae-gak, the mayor of Jindo County, stated, "This year's festival is particularly meaningful as it showcases chrysanthemums lovingly cultivated by local farmers. I hope the diverse attractions and family-oriented programs themed around fairy tales will encourage tourists to stay longer and enjoy the festival, revitalizing the local economy as well."
Meanwhile, Jindo County aims to use this chrysanthemum festival as a means to connect agricultural production with the tourism industry, anticipating economic benefits from festival visitors engaging with local businesses. There is growing interest in whether this model, utilizing locally produced chrysanthemums as a key exhibition resource, can foster simultaneous growth in agriculture and tourism within the region.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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