By Jia H Jung, California Local News Fellow
Thousands of people filled The Presidio on Saturday to partake in the fifth annual Bay Area Chuseok Festival.
The mid-autumn harvest celebrations, coordinated by the Korean Center, Inc. since 2019, have become the largest public event showcasing Korean culture in Northern California.
Enjoy our slide show below by clicking on the right and left arrows to advance the photos.
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Beauties of the Santa Clara Korean Senior Chorus, pictured in hanbok – Korean traditional clothing. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
A local Korean-Chinese American toddler spinning in her hanbok Korean skirt while she watches from the wings. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
A singer of the Santa Clara Korean Senior Chorus preparing to go onstage. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Art Taekwondo, dancing among the boards they broke at their morning performance. Photo Credit, Jia H. Jung 
An Art Taekwondo performer delivers an aerial move. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Art Taekwondo holding up a banner marking the 70th year of the alliance between South Korea and the United States. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Art Taekwondo after their morning performance. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Yoon Sang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco. Photo Credit: Kevin Lee 
Members of the Association of Korean Adoptees, San Francisco (AKASF). Photo Credit: HyunJu Lee 
A worker from the Korean Center, Inc. (KCI), preparing the “Wishes to the Chuseok Moon” interactive art installation. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Special fries from the Sojuilla Mexican Korean fusion food truck. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
An Melona-flavored soju slushy crafted by Korner Kitchen & Bar of Oakland. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
A glimpse of the makers and vendors of the 2023 Bay Area Chuseok Festival. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Silicon Valley Korean Children’s Choir. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
A traditional performer of Urisawe. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Drummers of Urisawe. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Urisawe’s samgomu Korean traditional drumming and dance performance. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Rapper, singer, and songwriter Son of Paper (Kyle Jae Hyuk Shin) taking the stage with DJ Dailo Mac. Photo Credit: Fiona Jane F. Orolfo 
Son of Paper with dance team 2k Ave, choreographed by Jun Shao (right). Photo Credit: Fiona Jane F. Orolfo 
Son of Paper and 2k Ave, getting low. Photo Credit: Fiona Jane F. Orolfo 
Son of Paper charming the crowd with 2k Ave and choreographer Jun Shao. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
Son of Paper, 2k Avenue, and Jun Shao. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung 
A couple smiling at the Chuseok Festival’s hanbok photo booth. Photo Credit: Kevin Lee 
A family posing at the hanbok photo booth. Photo Credit: Kevin Lee 
Chuseok Festival attendees relaxing on the Main Parade Lawn of the Presidio, with the San Francisco Bay visible in the background. 
Wishes to the Chuseok Moon. Photo Credit: Jia H. Jung
In spectacular weather with the Golden Gate Bridge and bay sparkling in the background, families, friends, passerby, veterans in uniform, and VIPs such as Yoon Sang-soo, Consul General of the Republic of Korea in San Francisco strolled the grounds to peruse 15 different maker stalls and have their pick of food and drink from 20 different vendors.
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Roasting marshmallows with Craftivity, a vendor at the event. Video Credit: Jia H. Jung
Local community organizations tabling at informational booths included Presidio Trust, King Sejong Institute, API Legal Outreach, APA Family Support Services, Korean Community Center of the East Bay, CARE Registry (UCSF), the Bay Area chapter of Women Cross DMZ/Korea Peace Now!, Ascend Norcal, Asian Women’s Shelter, Be the Match, Education for Social Justice Foundation, Bay Area Asian Deaf Association, Gum Moon Women’s Residence, Asian American Curriculum Project, and the region’s Social Security Administration.
“Spring In My Hometown,” by the Silicon Valley Children’s Choir. Video Credit: Jia H. Jung
Family-friendly offerings included Korean lawn games, the Wishes to the Chuseok Moon art installation, a hanbok clothing photo booth, and stations for chopstick craft and paper lotus lantern making.
Urisawe, making heads spin with traditional drumming and music. Video Credit: Jia H. Jung
The main stage featured performances by traditional and modern dancers and musicians, senior’s and children’s choruses.
The headliner, the Art Taekwondo group visiting from Seoul, South Korea for the event, wowed the crowd with an impressive martial arts and choreography show. The performance, which occurred once in the morning and later in the afternoon to cap off the entertainment lineup, played out the story of the alliance between the U.S. and Korea in its 70th year.
Martial arts and modern choreography performance by Seoul-based Art Taekwondo at the Chuseok festival, acting out the origin of the 70-year alliance between the U.S. and Korea.
The festival, growing every year, was another energetic kickoff to the fall season on this year of the Black Rabbit, a symbol of fertility that harmonizes with Chuseok’s gratitude and wishes for abundance in all aspects of life.
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