It is strawberry season in South Korea! And, there is nowhere better to get your fix of the freshest, juiciest strawberries than the Nonsan Strawberry Festival! You can enjoy the festival from March 3rd -12th, 2023.
Strawberry Season in Korea
Strawberry season in South Korea is during winter and early spring. Because produce in Korea is sold seasonally, you canโt always find fresh strawberries year-round. And, if you do manage to find them in the off-season, theyโll cost a small fortune. As a result, if you are obsessed with strawberries like I am, youโd better get your fill while theyโre in season.
Iโm obsessed with strawberries. Itโs probably my favorite fruit. I like pairing it with breakfast food like greek yogurt or pancakes, having them for snacks on cheese boards, or even in salads.
During strawberry season in Korea, there are so many places to buy affordable strawberries. While your standard supermarket is pretty expensive for fruit, they are normally about half price or even less at traditional markets or produce stands. You can buy them by the cart, and sometimes, you can even purchase them from the back of trucks that drive through your neighborhood.
Nonsan Strawberries
Nonsan is the largest producer of strawberries in South Korea. As strawberries are native to North America, and not indigenous to South Korea, they first began being grown in the region about 50 years ago.
Nonsan has pristine conditions for strawberries to grow such as fertile soil, clean water, and abundant sunlight. This is why Nonsan strawberries are recognized for excellent flavor, fragrance, and sweetness. As a result, most Koreans think of Nonsan when strawberry country comes up in conversation.
Nonsan strawberries truly have become a local specialty and the pride of the region.
Nonsan Strawberry Festival
The best place to get the full strawberry season festival experience is, of course, Nonsan Strawberry Festival.
At the beginning of spring each year, the city of Nonsan welcomes visitors from near and far to bask in the glory of this delicious fruit. In fact, if you are a true strawberry connoisseur, this is the best festival of the year. The biggest, sweetest, and juiciest selection of domestically-grown strawberries are reserved for the Nonsan Strawberry Festival.
From March 3rd -12th, Nonsan Strawberry Festival is held to celebrate the tasty, vitamin C-laden fruit.
Glorious Food!
At the Nonsan strawberry festival, visitors can pick as many fruits as their heart desires. That is, as long as they fit in their baskets โ or stomachs. There are also plenty of original strawberry creations for visitors to sample, such as strawberry rice cakes and even strawberry hot sauce. Additionally, you can find many well-established treats like strawberry pancakes and strawberry jam.
Nonsan Strawberry Festival Events
Other events include a strawberry exhibition and there are plenty of hands-on activities for visitors to try, such as baking a strawberry cake. With strawberries available at low prices during the festival, visitors will be able to take lots home with them.
Another unexpected attraction is the helicopter tour. On the tour, you can enjoy the beautiful view of Tapjeong Lake. And, for those who are planning to come with their families, your little ones can enjoy the Kidzone, where they can play in a job experience theme park.
Lastly, the festival includes a fireworks display and visitors should also pay a visit to Nonsanโs specialty market.
Checklist
- Strawberry Picking
- Dessert Cafe
- Helicopter Tour
- Enjoy the Fireworks
Nonsan Strawberry Festival Location
Nonsan Strawberry Festival (๋ ผ์ฐ ๋ธ๊ธฐ์ถ์ ) Address: 319 Daegyo-Dong, Nonsan, Chungcheongnam-Do. Korean address: ์ถฉ๋จ ๋ ผ์ฐ์ ๋๊ต๋ 319 Operating Hours: 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM Website:www.nonsan.go.kr/nsfestival/
Want to make sure you attend all of the major festivals in South Korea this year? Click Here for a list of the top 10 festivals in Korea, 2023!
