Spring in Korea means one thing above all else: strawberries. And nowhere does strawberry season better than Nonsan (논산), a city in South Chungcheong Province that has been growing some of Korea’s finest strawberries for over 50 years. Every March, Nonsan throws a festival worthy of its prized fruit — and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be the biggest yet.
The Ultimate Guide to Nonsan Strawberry Festival 2026: Korea’s Sweetest Spring Event
🍓 Festival At a Glance
| Name | 2026 제28회 논산딸기축제 (28th Nonsan Strawberry Festival) |
| Dates | March 26 (Thu) – March 29 (Sun), 2026 |
| Venue | Nonsan Citizens Family Park (논산시민가족공원), Gwanchok-dong, Nonsan |
| Admission | Free |
| Slogan | “Nonsan Strawberry, Seducing the World” |
| Official site | nonsan.go.kr/festivalen |
Why Go in 2026?
Now in its 28th year, the Nonsan Strawberry Festival has been designated an official Cultural Tourism Festival by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for 2026–2027 — a mark of national recognition for its quality and scale.
This year’s event is also a Pre-EXPO preview for the 2027 Nonsan World Strawberry Industry EXPO, the world’s first international expo dedicated entirely to strawberries. Expect the festival to have a noticeably more international energy, with global parades, multilingual programming, and overseas buyers in attendance.
What to Do
The festival spans 8 categories and 40 programs — here are the highlights.
🍓 Strawberry Experiences
- Strawberry harvesting at participating farms (pre-registration via the official website)
- Strawberry jam & dessert-making workshops
- K-food cooking demos featuring strawberry dishes you’d never think to try — strawberry hoetteok, strawberry bibimbap, strawberry rice cake
🧁 Dessert Zone — The Main Event
Major food brands descend on the festival every year, and 2026 is no different. Sungsimdang (the legendary Daejeon bakery), Ottogi, and Crown Haitai are all participating with strawberry-themed premium desserts. Lines form early — arrive before noon if you want to avoid the “strawberry open run.”
🚁 Military Helicopter Ride
One of the most unique programs at any Korean festival. Board a Surion (KUH-1) — Korea’s domestically-produced military helicopter — for a flight over Tapjeongho Lake and the festival grounds. Pre-registration is essential (slots sell out almost immediately); apply via email at nsf987@naver.com. Minors require parental consent and a family registry document.
Even without a ride, 8 military aircraft are on static display at the Citizens Stadium for photos.
🎨 Global Parade & Art
- Nonsan Strawberry Global Parade — larger and more elaborate than last year
- NoN International Sculpture Art Project — international outdoor art installations
- K-pop Random Play Dance — join in or watch the chaos
📸 Photo Zones & Merch
The festival’s official mascot characters Berry Friends (베리프렌즈) appear throughout, with dedicated photo zones and limited-edition goods for sale.
Practical Info
Getting There
💡 Tip for international travelers: While the festival itself is foreigner-friendly, most strawberry farm bookings and some programs are in Korean only. If possible, ask a Korean-speaking friend for help or consider joining an English-guided tour.
- By train: KTX or ITX to Nonsan Station, then shuttle bus or local bus to the festival grounds
- By car: Nonsan-Cheonan Expressway → Nonsan IC or Yeonmu IC
Train travel tip: The 2026 여행가는 달 (Travel Month) promotion offers 100% train fare reimbursement as a coupon for Nonsan day trips and overnight packages. Check the Korail website for details — the page is in Korean, so use this Google Translate link for the English version.
Shuttle buses run from outer parking lots every 5–20 minutes, 09:30–21:30.
Strawberry farm visits: The official website lists 20+ participating farms. Book early — popular spots fill up weeks in advance.
Contact: 041-730-2984
Beyond the Festival: What to See in Nonsan
The festival runs for 4 days, but Nonsan and the surrounding area deserve more time. Here’s a compact guide to the best nearby spots.
1. Gwanchoksa Temple (관촉사)
~10 min from festival venue
Ranked the No. 1 scenic spot among Nonsan’s Eight Views, Gwanchoksa sits on the eastern slope of Banyasan Mountain and is home to one of the most extraordinary Buddha statues in Korea. The Eunjin Mireuk (은진미륵) — an 18-metre stone Maitreya bodhisattva — has stood here since the Goryeo era, its serene face earning the nickname “the Smile of Baekje.” The stone Buddha is a National Treasure; the accompanying stone lantern is a designated Cultural Property.
Standing beneath the statue, its sheer scale feels almost unreal — a quiet, overwhelming presence that makes this one of the most memorable temple visits in Korea.
- Admission: Free (please verify on-site)
- Address: 25 Gwanchok-ro 1beon-gil, Nonsan
- Related post: Gwanchoksa Temple And The Stone Maitreya In Nonsan 2025 — A Timeless, Gentle Giant Of Faith | Nonsan Travel Guide
2. Nonsan Sunshine Land (논산선샤인랜드)
~20 min from festival venue
A multi-experience cultural space combining military history with retro Korean pop culture. Sunshine Land rose to fame as the filming location for the hit drama Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인), and the sprawling set — recreating 1900s-era Korea — is still fully walkable and photogenic. Separate from the drama set, the 1950 Studio transports visitors to mid-century Korea, while the Military Experience Zone offers screen shooting, indoor shooting ranges, and VR.
- Hours: Mar–Oct 09:00–18:00 (closed Wednesdays)
- Admission: Sunshine Studio — Adults ₩8,000 / Teens ₩6,000 / Children ₩4,000 · 1950 Studio — Free
- Address: 102 Bonghwang-ro, Yeonmu-eup, Nonsan
- Related post: Ultimate Mr. Sunshine Filming Location Guide — Explore Korea’s Most Stunning K-Drama Set
3. Ganggyeong: Catholic Church + Modern History Street
(강경성당 + 강경근대역사거리 — about 15 km from Nonsan city center, allow a half-day)
Ganggyeong Catholic Church (강경성당)
Built in 1961 and designated a National Registered Cultural Heritage in 2015, Ganggyeong Catholic Church is architecturally striking for its pointed arch interior — an unusual structural choice for its era. The roofline is said to be modelled after a ship’s hull, with the soaring peak evoking a great sail. It sits right within the modern history street, making it a natural starting point for a walk.
Ganggyeong Modern History Street (강경근대역사거리)
Once ranked alongside Pyongyang and Daegu as one of the three great markets of the Joseon era, Ganggyeong thrived as an inland port on the Geum River connecting the coast to the interior. When river trade collapsed and road networks shifted, the town essentially froze in time — leaving behind a remarkably intact streetscape of early 20th-century architecture.
Key sites along the street include:
- Former Hanil Bank Ganggyeong Branch (now Ganggyeong History Museum) — striking red-brick building
- Old Ganggyeong Labor Union building (now the History & Culture Information Center)
- Ganggyeong Central Elementary School auditorium — registered cultural heritage
- Ganggyeong Gurakbu (강경구락부) — a retro complex of café, boutique hotel, and courtyard built around the historic bank building; great for a coffee stop
- Related post: Nonsan 1950 Romantic Studio: An Unforgettable Time-Travel Walk Through Retro Streets And K-Drama Filming Locations
And before you leave: pick up some 강경젓갈 (Ganggyeong jeotgal) — the town’s famous fermented salted seafood — at the traditional market. It’s what Ganggyeong is most known for today, and it makes an excellent souvenir.
Suggested Day Trip Routes
Option A — Festival focus (1 day)
Nonsan Strawberry Festival (full day) → Gwanchoksa Temple (late afternoon)
Option B — Festival + History (1–2 days)
Nonsan Strawberry Festival → Gwanchoksa Temple → Sunshine Land → Ganggyeong (Catholic Church + Modern History Street + jeotgal market)
Spring in Nonsan is short, sweet, and very red. Go while the strawberries are at their peak.
🎟️ Plan Your Trip to Nonsan
Nonsan is about 30 minutes from Jeonju by car, making it easy to combine both destinations in one trip. If you’re visiting during strawberry season, consider pairing the festival with a day in Jeonju for a fuller Korea experience.
👉 Check out guided tours and private transfers for a smoother trip: