Korus festival comes to Annandale this weekend

Dongha Jung

The 17th annual Korus Festival – featuring K-pop, traditional Korean music, entertainers from other cultures, and more than 50 vendors – will take over the former Kmart parking lot Sept. 28 and 29.

The festival, organized by the Annandale-based Korean American Association of Greater Washington, is aimed bringing people of all backgrounds together to celebrate the friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Korus is 10 a.m.-9 p.m. both days. The opening ceremony, with remarks by politicians, is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday.

Sungmo Jo

The festival will feature two singing stars from Korea. Dongha Jung, an actor, radio personality, and professor, as well as a pop star, will perform 7:30 p.m. on Saturday. Sungmo Jo, known in Korea as the “crown prince of ballads,” will appear 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Some of the other performers scheduled for Saturday include the Washington Korean Band, DJ Ganji, the Washington Gloria Chromaharp Choir, taekwondo, Korean traditional performer Rhonda Zakutney, line dancing, a K-pop DJ, and a talent contest sponsored by Korea Daily.

On Sunday, the entertainment lineup includes the Blessing Harmonica Ensemble, a K-pop cover band, Philippine music by Diwa De Leon, belly dancing by Asala El Masari, bluegrass by the Randy Barrett Trio, a Hawaiian and Polynesian show, a senior singing contest, line dancing, and a K-pop show hosted by Korea Daily.

Korus had been at the Annandale Kmart parking lot in its early days, and this is the first time it’s back in Annandale since 2010.