A Sweet Alleyway Filled with Winter Sunlight: A Trip to the Haman Dried Persimmon Festival
Introduction
When the low winter sun spreads through the cold midwinter air, the alleys of Gaya-eup in Haman quietly fill with the fragrance of dried persimmons. The Haman Dried Persimmon Festival, holding within it the moments when orange persimmons ripened on the trees, feels like a winter journey where you gently take out and share the memories of the season. As we wait for the festival to begin, we picture in advance the sweet aroma and the warmth of the people who will gather there.
A Sweet Alleyway Filled with Winter Sunlight: A Trip to the Haman Dried Persimmon Festival
Contents
- Guide
- Program Information
- Visit (Planned) Impressions
- Accommodation
- Restaurants & Cafés
- Nearby Attractions
- Getting There
- Conclusion
- Photo Snapshots
- Videos
- Related News
Guide
- Festival Name : Haman Dried Persimmon Festival
- Dates : 2026-01-23 ~ 2026-01-25
- Hours : 11:00 ~ 17:00
- Venue : Haman Gymnasium, Haman Sports Town, 619-4 Haman-daero, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
- Admission : Free
- Organizer : Haman Dried Persimmon Festival Committee
- Contact : 055-580-4554
- Signature Dried Persimmon : Haman Susi Dried Persimmon
- 11:00 Arrive in the area around Haman Gymnasium, look around the entire festival site, and check out the booths of the farms you’re interested in at the dried persimmon direct market in advance.
- 13:00 Take a short indoor break while enjoying free activities at the experience booths, such as woodworking or making “bracelets that convey your heart.”
- 14:00 On the first day, secure seats in front of the stage for the opening ceremony and the preliminary round of the Dried Persimmon Singing Contest; on the following days, focus on the preliminary and final rounds of the contest.
- 15:00 Fully enjoy the atmosphere of winter evening performances while watching guest singers’ celebratory concerts and the Haman Dried Persimmon Song Festival.
- 16:00 Take part in dried persimmon–related programs such as the dried persimmon auction and making dried persimmon rice cakes, then share and enjoy the snacks you’ve made.
- Wrap-up After a light meal at the food trucks, pick up gifts based on your purchase amount and take a leisurely walk around nearby Hamju Park or the Lotus Theme Park to bring the day to a close.
For popular experiences and the singing contest, it’s best to arrive with some time to spare and be prepared to wait.
The Haman Dried Persimmon Festival is a local winter festival where Haman residents and travelers come together, with Haman dried persimmons—bearing the spirit of Ara Gaya—as the star of the show. Haman Susi persimmons are smaller than other varieties, but when fully ripe they are exceptionally sweet and fragrant. When these persimmons are dried in Haman’s clean winter winds, they become Haman dried persimmons, once known as a premium tribute offered to kings in the Joseon era.
At the festival, you can savor firsthand the deep sweetness and chewy texture of Haman Susi dried persimmons, and meet the producers up close to hear their stories. On stage, the Dried Persimmon Singing Contest and guest performances follow one after another, while various hands-on booths, direct markets, and food trucks come together to create a time where you can slowly stroll under the winter sunlight as if walking down a sweet alley.
Program Information
On Friday the 23rd, the first day of the festival, the official opening ceremony will take place at 2 p.m., followed by the preliminary round of the Dried Persimmon Singing Contest. You can share in the beginning of the festival while enjoying the opening performances under the stage lights.
The preliminary rounds of the Dried Persimmon Singing Contest will be held on the 23rd and 24th, and the finals will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday the 25th. Locals and visitors take part, showing off the singing skills they’ve honed over the winter and putting on lively performances.
At 3 p.m. on the 25th, when the finals are held, guest singers will take the stage for celebratory performances. A mix of trot, traditional Korean music, and other genres will warmly color the winter evening.
Throughout the festival, a direct-market zone will be operated with participating farms from the Haman region, allowing you to talk directly with producers and purchase Haman Susi dried persimmons at reasonable prices. Various processed dried persimmon products and sampling corners will also be available.
This hands-on program lets you make rice cake rolls by stuffing nuts into dried persimmons and wrapping them in rice cake. You can share and enjoy what you’ve made while discovering a new charm of dried persimmons.
Free hands-on programs such as woodworking and making “bracelets that convey your heart” are available. These are great corners to spend time crafting and decorating together with children.
In addition to the experience booths, there will be participatory events and small-scale friendly sports games, where you can enjoy lighthearted games and small events with family and friends.
Food trucks offering simple meals and snacks will be set up throughout the festival grounds, and there will be events giving out gifts to customers who purchase above a certain amount.
The opening ceremony on the first day takes place in the afternoon, so if you want to see both the ceremony and the preliminary rounds of the singing contest, it’s best to plan your visit for the afternoon.
The dried persimmon rice cake roll experience and the singing contest are very popular, so if you’d like to participate, check the on-site registration times in advance and move with some time to spare.
Since performances and experiences are scheduled by time slot, take a quick look at the event schedule before entering the venue and plan your route around the programs you most want to see to reduce unnecessary movement.
The dried persimmon rice cake roll experience and the singing contest are popular, so it’s wise to factor in waiting times.
Check the event schedule in advance and plan your route around the performances you most want to see.
Visit (Planned) Impressions
Today is January 16, 2026, and the Haman Dried Persimmon Festival (2026.1.23–25) has not yet begun. With the festival just around the corner, I feel a flutter of excitement. It feels as though my anticipation is building day by day. This year marks the 15th Haman Dried Persimmon Festival, which will be held free of charge from January 23 to 25 at Haman Gymnasium, the indoor gymnasium of Haman-gun. I imagine visitors stepping into a space where the gentle scent of dried persimmons spreads through the crisp winter air.
I’m especially looking forward to the direct market for dried persimmons, where you can taste the sweetness, chewiness, and the care of the farmers in every bite. The performance programs are also something to anticipate. The Haman Dried Persimmon Song Festival will be the highlight of the event, with guest singers taking the stage to warm the winter night with a variety of genres, from trot to traditional Korean music. I can already picture people clapping along and singing together in front of the stage.
There will also be programs such as making dried persimmon rice cake rolls, singing contests, and various experience booths, making it a great way to spend a full day with friends and family, engaging all five senses. Personally, I most look forward to that peculiar thrill when the stage lights slowly dim and the performance is just about to begin. From the cheers of the crowd to the trembling voices behind the microphone, and even the subtle sound of persimmon peels being removed—every little moment feels like it will become part of the festival. On the day of the festival, I hope not to forget these feelings, to savor them slowly, and to capture them in photos and notes.
Accommodation
You can enjoy the Haman Dried Persimmon Festival in a single day, but if you’d like to explore nearby attractions as well, it’s a good idea to book accommodation in the surrounding area. Haman is a relatively quiet small city, so if you also consider lodging in nearby cities, you’ll have more options.
Restaurants & Cafés
Within a 10 km drive from Haman Gymnasium, you’ll find a variety of restaurants and cafés, making it easy to have meals before or after the festival. From warm soups to Chinese cuisine, bakeries, and cafés, there are plenty of options to choose from according to your route and preferences.
6 Goeisan 4-gil, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A Chinese restaurant specializing in jjajangmyeon and a variety of Chinese dishes.
There may be a wait during lunch and dinner hours, so it’s better to visit with some extra time.
Distance: 3.6 km
589 Beopsu-ro, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A local Chinese restaurant serving a wide range of Chinese dishes.
It can get busy at lunchtime on weekends, so it’s good to time your visit before or after watching the festival.
Distance: 4.4 km
130 Seokmu-gil, Beopsu-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A meat-focused restaurant in the style of a butcher’s eatery.
For dinner visits, it’s a good idea to check in advance whether reservations are available for a more relaxed meal.
Distance: 4.4 km
19-59 Mogok 5-gil, Sanin-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A neighborhood bakery café offering a variety of breads and desserts.
A nice place to stop by for a warm drink and some bread after the festival.
Distance: 6.3 km
331 Sanin-ro, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A Korean restaurant serving neatly prepared traditional Korean set meals.
For group visits, it’s best to check reservations and opening hours in advance.
Distance: 6.4 km
333 Sanin-ro, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A samgyetang specialty restaurant serving ginseng chicken soup and other nourishing dishes.
Perfect for a warm soup-based meal before or after the festival during the winter season.
Distance: 6.4 km
Gunbuk Donggwang Ice Cave Recreation Area, 223 Ogok 4-gil, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A restaurant near a recreation area, convenient for a full meal.
If you plan to include it in a driving course, check the opening hours in advance.
Distance: 7.5 km
2367-1 Hamma-daero, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A roadside restaurant with good accessibility, ideal for a stop during a drive.
Convenient for a meal while on the move; check the route with your navigation app.
Distance: 7.6 km
Since the restaurants are relatively close by car, adjust your route flexibly to fit your festival schedule.
Nearby Attractions
Using Haman Gymnasium as your base, there are many parks, theme parks, and reservoirs that are easy to visit within a single day. Without overdoing it, choose one or two spots to extend the lingering mood of the Dried Persimmon Festival and end your day with a light walk or drive.
38-20 Wanggung 1-gil, Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A lotus-themed park with ponds and walking paths.
Very close to the festival site, ideal for a light stroll and some photos.
Distance: 0.3 km
619-1 Haman-daero, Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
An urban park with well-maintained greenery, perfect for walking and relaxing.
Adjacent to the festival venue, making it easy to step out between performances for a short walk and a breather.
Distance: 0.4 km
22-35 Sageom-gil, Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A serene seowon (Confucian academy) where you can enjoy a quiet walk.
A nice place for calm winter landscape photos.
Distance: 2.8 km
224-41 Ipggokgongwon-gil, Sanin-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A cultural park combining a lake and forest trails, with different scenery in each season.
Great for a short drive and a light walk while enjoying the views.
Distance: 4.7 km
225 Ipggokgongwon-gil, Sanin-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A scenic driving and walking route that follows the reservoir shoreline.
Visit near sunset to enjoy the gentle lakeside scenery.
Distance: 4.8 km
208-49 Hagi 2-gil, Daesan-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A park where you can experience nature up close, centered on wetlands and an ecological riverside area.
If you enjoy nature photography, this is a good spot to visit during the daytime.
Distance: 6.7 km
37 Gangju 4-gil, Beopsu-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A sunflower-themed village with changing rural scenery depending on the season.
A good place to visit if you’d like to pair the festival with a taste of the countryside.
Distance: 7.3 km
Juseo-ri, Yeohang-myeon, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do
A reservoir with impressive scenery where calm waters meet rolling hills.
Ideal for a quiet drive and walk in a peaceful atmosphere.
Distance: 8.6 km
If you’re driving, combining Ipggok Culture Park with the reservoir drive route makes for a satisfying driving course.
Getting There
Public Transportation — Haman Gymnasium (619-4 Haman-daero, Gaya-eup, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do), the festival venue, is located in the center of Gaya-eup. Take an intercity or city bus to Gaya-eup in Haman, then transfer to a local or village bus and get off at a stop near Haman Gymnasium.
By Car — Set your navigation destination to “Haman Gymnasium, 619-4 Haman-daero, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do.” During the festival, temporary parking guidance may be in place around the venue, so follow the signs and instructions from on-site staff.
If you’re using public transportation, be sure to check the last bus times in advance.
Conclusion
The Haman Dried Persimmon Festival offers a quiet yet deeply memorable seasonal landscape, with the subtle fragrance of dried persimmons spreading through the cold winter air. The rich sweetness and aroma of Haman Susi dried persimmons, combined with the history of Ara Gaya, make it feel like more than just a food festival—it becomes a chance to look back on the past year, layer by layer.
As you stroll slowly through the quiet alleys and parks, the bustling direct market, and the songs rising from the stage, may you each capture a few warm scenes of your own to take home in your hearts.
