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The annual Harvest Fest moves online

Congratulations to the organisers of the annual Korean Harvest Fest for putting something so enticing together in these difficult times. The Chuseok celebrations organised by Korean British Cultural Exchange have moved online this year. Plans for screenings in the heard of Koreatown (New Malden) have had to be shelved at the last minute because of the increased Covid threat levels. Check the KBCE website for updates.

The schedule is as follows:

12:00 Opening Ceremony
12:20 Harvest Fest 1: Korean food and Songpyeon
12:40 Harvest Fest 2: Traditional dance, Ganggangsullae
13:00 Kpop workshop live from Korea @kingstonkoreafestival
13:30 Harvest Fest 3: Traditional dress, Hanbok
13:40 Kimjang Project 1: Kimchi recipe book launch
13:50 Kimjang Project 2:

  • Salad style Korean cabbage kimchi (localised)
  • Korean soybean paste kimchi (Korean-Chinese)
  • Wrapped kimchi (North Korean)
  • Korean temple kimjang kimchi (South Korean)
14:30 End of celebrations

The official press release follows.

We think the livestreams will be on the Kingston Korea Festival YouTube Channel, but that you have to flip over to their Instagram channel for the 1pm K-pop livestream.

The annual Harvest Fest returns

Saturday 26 September 2020, 12 noon – 2:30pm
Online (on Korea Harvest Fest Facebook Page) and in St George’s Square, New Malden

Kingston Harvest Fest 2020 final poster

Kingston Korea Festival 2020 will kick off with the annual Harvest Fest, which will take place on Saturday 26 September. The event is set to take place online, with virtual events streaming 12noon-2.30pm and again at 3-5.30pm. In addition, these videos will also be screened at St George’s Square in New Malden.

On the day, videos and illustrations will be presented live over Facebook (@kingstonkoreafestival) giving people a chance to learn more about Korean culture, in particular Chuseok – traditional Korean Harvest Fest. Known literally as “Autumn eve”, once known as hangawi, is a major harvest festival in both North and South Korea celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar on the full moon.

Other videos include North and South Korean Songpyeon (rice cake) making, a traditional Korean performance, a KPop live workshop, as well as a fashion show showing Hanbok, Korean traditional dress. There will also be family-friendly virtual events, such as a competition to make your own Songpyeon at home. In addition, keywords will be given throughout the day, and participants who collect all the keywords will get a prize as well.

Finally, there will be an official launch of the Kimchi recipe book created as part of the Kimjang Project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, featuring unique South Korean, North Korean and Chinese Korean recipes from local chefs.

Justina Jang from KBCE said: “We are excited to be able to bring back the popular annual Harvest Fest, and have been working very hard to make sure that it can be done in a way that is safe and fun for everybody. This year, we have had to make the decision to hold the event online – but there will be many interactive ways for audiences to get involved and learn about Korean culture.

“We are hopeful we will be able to go ahead with our events later this year, so keep an eye out on our website for more information.”

Harvest Fest is the first of a series of events the KBCE is organising this year. 31 October – 1 November, the first ever K-Pop workshop will take place virtually and the Kimjang Festival is back on the 22 November.

(automatically generated) We didn’t review this event, but Diya did, here.

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