This guide summarizes official announcements and is not a firsthand visit review. Character illustrations are GPT-generated.
- Dates
- Sat, Oct 3, 2026 ~ Mon, Oct 12
- Venue
- Hwangnam-dong Ancient Tombs area (opposite the old Hwangnam Elementary School)501 Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk
- Fee
- Free
- Organizer
- Gyeongju City
- Official
- Official notice (Korean) ↗
- Updated
- when we last re-checked the official notice
📅 Schedule at a glance
October 2026
Event daysHighlightsTodayKorean public holidays
📌 What's on each day
- 10/3SatNational Foundation Day★ Opening·Drone showToday
🔁 Daily · Theme gardens·Free experience booths·Evening lights
2026 Gyeongju Hwanggeum Garden Outing Remaining Schedule, Experiences, Parking, Before Visiting Hwangnam-dong Ancient Tombs with Kids
It’s the season when autumn flowers bloom among the ancient tombs of Gyeongju 🌼
It’s happening now! The 2026 Gyeongju Hwanggeum Garden Outing, now in its 7th year, kicked off on October 3 (Sat) and runs until the 12th (Mon) at the Hwangnam-dong Ancient Tombs area (opposite the old Hwangnam Elementary School).
Admission is free.
This post summarizes the official press release from Gyeongju City (October 1) and the official city blog (October 7).
📅 Five Days Left—When Should You Go?
The opening ceremony and drone light show (on the 3rd) have already passed. There are no separately scheduled performances for the remaining days according to official info, but the gardens and experiences are open throughout the event.
From the 9th to the 11th, the nearby Woljeonggyo and Bonghwangdae areas will also host the Silla Cultural Festival, so there will be some downtown road closures.
| Remaining Days | Things to Know |
|---|---|
| 8th (Thu) | Weekday — Gardens·Experience booths, evening lights |
| 9th (Fri·Hangeul Day) | Silla Cultural Festival begins — Bonghwang-ro vehicle restrictions from 09:00 |
| 10th (Sat)·11th (Sun) | Silla Cultural Festival weekend — Bonghwang-ro restrictions until 22:00 on the 11th |
| 12th (Mon) | Last day of Hwanggeum Garden Outing |
Jungang-ro will be closed from 12:00 on the 8th until 12:00 on the 12th.
🌼 What Gardens Are There?
This year’s theme is ‘Golden Healing.’ It’s introduced as Gyeongju’s autumn event, adding flowers and garden culture to the historical landscape of Hwangnam-dong Ancient Tombs.
| Garden·Attraction | Details |
|---|---|
| Starlight Wisdom Cheomseongdae Garden | Theme garden inspired by Cheomseongdae — illuminated at night |
| Thousand-Year Silla Maze Garden | Maze decorated with golden flowers |
| Urban Horticulture Garden | Introduction to urban agriculture in daily life |
| Citizen Photo Garden Contest | Photos of Gyeongju taken by citizens |
| Pohang Garden | Sister city Pohang’s ‘Ten Million Roses Pohang Garden’ |
The official city blog also mentions an exhibition around five metasequoia trees in the tomb area, ginkgo tree displays, chrysanthemums, and a Crescent Moon Photo Zone that lights up at night.
🐥 What Experiences Are There?
According to the city’s press release, keyring making, face painting, and planting experiences are available throughout the event. Blog posts mention that you can enjoy several free experience booths during the day.
| Experience | Details |
|---|---|
| Planting (Planting Experience) | Decorate a flowerpot with drawings, plant something, and take it home |
| Flower Crown Making | Make a flower crown to wear on your head |
| Pressed Flower Bookmark | Decorate a bookmark with pressed flowers and glitter stickers |
| Keyring Making | Make a cherry-shaped keyring with knots |
| Chick Feeding · Queen Bee Search | Nature learning experiences |
| Giant Coloring Poster | Large group coloring activity |
| Face Painting | Experience mentioned in the press release |
| 4-H Roulette | Gyeongju City 4-H gifts (file, tumbler, notebook, pen) |
🚗 Getting There·Parking
The event is held at the Hwangnam-dong Ancient Tombs area, opposite the old Hwangnam Elementary School. Here are the parking lots introduced on the official Gyeongju City blog.
| Parking Lot | Details |
|---|---|
| Hwangnam Public Parking Lot | Listed on the official city blog |
| Jjoksaem Parking Lot | Listed on the official city blog |
| Hwangridan-gil Public Parking Lot | 894 spaces, restrooms and amenities (opened January this year) |
There is no information about parking fees during the event in this year’s announcements.
From 09:00 on the 9th to 22:00 on the 11th, vehicle access is restricted on Bonghwang-ro (Cheonggiwa Intersection~Naenam Intersection), so be sure to check the route in advance during these three days.
👨👩👧 If You’re Going with Kids
According to blog posts, the experience booths are open during the day, and the garden lights come on after sunset. You can enjoy the experiences during the day and stay for the evening lights.
For the planting experience, you’ll be carrying a flowerpot home, so it’s convenient to bring a bag.
Blog posts mention that it gets chilly with the wind after sunset, so be sure to bring an extra layer for your child.
from 12:00 on the 8th to 12:00 on the 12th,
and Bonghwang-ro is closed from 09:00 on the 9th
to 22:00 on the 11th.
If you’re driving, decide on your parking lot in advance.
⏳ What Hasn’t Been Announced Yet
□ Daily operating hours (when experience booths and lights end) □ Times and quantities for each experience □ Parking fees during the event □ Operation in case of rain
These haven’t been announced officially yet. I’ll update this post when they are.
👍 Recommended for These Families
✔ Families looking for free experiences like planting or making flower crowns ✔ Families who want to see both the gardens by day and the lights by night ✔ Families who want to walk around downtown Gyeongju and enjoy the Silla Cultural Festival together
I’ve also summarized the Silla Cultural Festival happening in downtown Gyeongju on the same weekend. See the summary → The 53rd Silla Cultural Festival
Ancient tombs, autumn flowers, and night lights— a downtown Gyeongju garden open for just ten days.
This post is a summary based on official information before visiting in person. The mascot illustrations are GPT-generated.
🔄 Updates
- First write-up
📎 Sources
- 경주 황남동 고분군, 가을꽃으로 물든다…‘황금정원나들이’ 3일 개막 경주시(경주시정뉴스) · 2026.10.1 · 관공서
- 낮과 밤이 모두 아름다운 '2026 경주 황금정원나들이' 경주시 공식 블로그 '경주애' · 2026.10.7 · 관공서
- 천년 신라의 역사와 문화, 경주의 가을을 물들인다 (제53회 신라문화제 교통통제 안내) 경주시(경주시정뉴스) · 2026.10.1 · 관공서
- 경주 황리단길 공영주차장 준공…주차난 해소 본격화 경주시(경주시정뉴스) · 2026.1.19 · 관공서
This is a guide based on official announcements, not a visit review. Schedules, programs and fees can change, so please re-check the official notice before you go.
AI-assisted translation. Numbers and article structure were checked against the Korean original on 2026-10-09. This is not a new verification of the event announcements. Original post (Korean)