[DiaryPoint = Reporter Choi Seung-jin] If you’re planning a weekend outing for food and hands-on crafts on Nov. 6–8, festivals in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, and Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, are worth considering. The Gumi Ramen Festival runs through Nov. 8 in the old downtown area around Gumi Station and Yeokjeon-ro, while the Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival continues through Nov. 10 at Lotte Garden Park.
This year’s Gumi Ramen Festival takes the theme “The World’s Longest Ramen Street,” spanning Gumi Station, Yeokjeon-ro, Munhwa-ro, Geumridan-gil and Saemaeul Jungang Market. Admission is free. Visitors can check out ramen restaurants, freshly fried noodles, a make-your-own-ramen activity, “Soup Wrap” and a global ramen challenge.
Nongshim will introduce a limited-edition “Gumi Ramen Festival Noodles” made entirely with wheat grown in Gumi. The noodles come with a spicy beef-and-soup-stock-style broth, shiitake mushrooms, carrots and bok choy. Nongshim plans to produce 200,000 packs at its Gumi plant and sell them at the festival and through Nongshim Mall starting Nov. 6. The company said about 350,000 people visited the festival over three days in 2025.
The Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival takes place Nov. 6–10 at Lotte Garden Park, 551 Jangyu-ro, Gimhae. Now in its 31st year, the festival features ceramics exhibitions and sales, pottery demonstrations, and activities including wheel throwing, coil building, mug decorating and a pottery excavation experience. The Buncheong Land stamp tour includes five activities. There will also be a family pottery-making contest and a family clay-stacking contest.
In Gimhae, visitors can also see the Buncheong History Pavilion, the Ceramics Masters Pavilion and award-winning works from the Buncheong Ceramics Competition. Busking, magic and bubble shows are also scheduled. The festival is listed as having an admission fee. Organizers are offering 20% off all ceramics, with an additional 10% discount for food-service business owners.
Both festivals begin Friday, Nov. 6, but offer different kinds of outings. Gumi is a good fit for trying ramen dishes and exploring downtown shops; Gimhae suits families who want to decorate pottery or watch demonstrations. The Gimhae festival runs through Tuesday, Nov. 10, so visitors can also avoid the weekend crowds.