Before getting the kids ready for trick or treating on Halloween, head down to the Korean Festival for some authentic treats. The 2015 Korean Festival will take place on October 31 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Richland Street in downtown Columbia. The festival, founded in 2005 by the Korean Community Presbyterian Church, promotes awareness and appreciation of the Korean culture.
This is one of our favorite events of the year. My children were born in Korea in 2007 and 2010. While I could never replicate the beauty of their home country, this festival gives us the opportunity to celebrate their heritage and culture as a family in a fun and meaningful way. But, one does not need Korean roots in order to enjoy all the festival has to offer!
Admission is free and so is the parking around the area. The only things families will have to pay for are food and children’s activities. But, there is plenty of entertainment throughout the day to keep the kids occupied.
The Korean Festival, celebrating its 10th year, is one of the fastest growing festivals in the area. Last year more than 4,000 people enjoyed the sights, sounds and tastes of Korea. The festival highlights several aspects of the Korean culture such as traditional Korean dances, traditional dress, Kpop music and Tae Kwon Do demonstrations. There are so many displays and demonstrations that this could easily be a full-day activity. Most importantly, all of the proceeds from the Korean Festival are put right back into our community through contributions to the Oliver Gospel Mission, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Sistercare, Boys Farm, Clean of Heart and Columbia Family Shelter, to name a few.
The festival’s menu features a wide variety of authentic Korean cuisine. Some of the more popular offerings are the Bi Bim Bop, Bulgogi, and the Kimchi but some of the lesser-known dishes are worth a taste as well.
There are plenty of activities for the kids besides the numerous demonstrations. Last year’s festival featured a bounce house, face painter, balloon maker and games that kids could play under the shaded tents. Spend the day enjoying the Korean culture before gearing up for the All-American Halloween!
Before returning to Columbia in January, we had live in South Korea for the last five years. It was our third assignment to Korea. My son has gone to the festival the last few years and we are so looking forward to attending Oct. 31.