🪷 Lotus Lantern Festival

Seoul, South Korea

Usually: The weekend before Buddha's Birthday (8th day of the 4th lunar month); 2027: May 13Dates TBA

A UNESCO-listed celebration of Buddha's Birthday: hundreds of thousands of lotus lanterns and giant floats parade from Dongdaemun to Jogyesa, with a traditional fair in Jongno.

Good to know

• The parade is on Saturday evening—claim a spot along Jongno early.
• On Sunday the street by Jogyesa has hands-on stalls where you can make a lotus lantern.