Damyang Bamboo Festival
담양대나무축제
Five days of bamboo-themed crafts, food, and forest walks in Damyang, Korea's bamboo capital. Centered on the Juknokwon bamboo forest.
Damyang's Juknokwon, a 31-hectare bamboo grove with paths, pavilions, and tea houses, is the festival's anchor. Activities include bamboo crafting workshops, bamboo-leaf tea ceremonies, and tasting daetongbap (rice steamed inside a bamboo tube), the local specialty. Quieter and lower-pressure than the bigger festivals.
From Gwangju: 30 minutes by intercity bus from Gwangju Bus Terminal to Damyang. From Seoul: 3.5 hours via KTX to Gwangju + bus. The festival grounds are walkable from Damyang's central bus stop.
Pair with the Metasequoia-lined Road and Soswaewon Garden, both within 15 minutes of Damyang town. Daetongbap is the local must-eat. Family-friendly and low-crowd by Korean festival standards.
https://www.bamboofestival.co.kr/