Join the Korean Cultural Center Washington, D.C. (KCCDC), the DC Mayor’s Office on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs (MOAPIA), the DC Public Library and chef Patrice Cunningham of Taegu Kimchi for Kimjang Day 2026, a hands-on celebration of Korea’s beloved communal tradition of making and sharing of kimchi!

This grand annual event now in its fourth year commemorates the 2022 establishment of Kimchi Day in Washington, D.C., as well as in Virginia, Maryland, and other states, and coincides with the same holiday in Korea on November 22.

This year’s Kimjang event has expanded to a full afternoon of cultural programs at DC's iconic Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library and offers a richer and more diverse experience than ever before, including a conversation with local chef Danny Lee, K-Pop performances by N2 Studios, traditional samulnori percussion music, and the signature Kimjang event with chef Patrice Cunningham, where guests can make and take home their own batch of fresh kimchi.

Kimjang Day 2026

Sunday, November 15, 2026, 1 – 5 PM (check-in opens 30 minutes before each event)

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 5F

901 G St. NW, Washington, DC

RSVPs OPEN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2 at 10:00 AM!

Schedule of Events

1:00 PM | Special Pre-Event

Complimentary copies of children’s book Blue Sky Morning by Kim Jihyun courtesy of the DC Public Library (for children ages 5 and up, while supplies last).

1:30–1:50 PM | Auditorium

Youngnam Samulnori: Performance by the Open Door Korean Cultural Ministry Team

1:50–2:50 PM | Auditorium

Fireside Chat with Chef Danny Lee and MOAPIA Director Ben DeGuzman

3:00–3:40 PM | Auditorium

K-Pop Dance Performance & Workshop featuring N2 Studios

3:00–4:30 PM | Event Space (5th Floor)

Kimchi Demo & Kimjang Workshop with Chef Patrice Cunningham

Admission: Please note that all events are free with registration, but a separate RSVP may be required for each part!

Important Registration Information

Please review the details below before registering! 

• ●There are three separate tickets options for this event. Please register separately for each part you wish to attend.

• ●Space and supplies are limited. Up to two tickets can be reserved when you RSVP.

• ●If you follow a vegan diet, please let us know at check-in.

• ●RSVP tickets are required for all attendees, and each person must have their own reservation. Complete information for each person must be included for each person for a valid reservation ("guest of" is not sufficient).

• ●RSVP tickets do not guarantee a seat, and guests may need to stand throughout some events, such as the Kimjang workshop. Limited seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue.

• ●Please note that entry may close early once all seats are occupied. Early arrival is recommended.

• ●Parking is not provided. Guests are kindly asked to use street parking at their convenience, or nearby public lots.

• ●Attendees with food allergies must inform a staff member or the chef before participating in the Kimjang workshop.

About Kimjang

A centuries-old tradition, kimjang (김장) often happens once or twice a year in Korea as a way for communities to stock up on essential preserved foods like kimchi (김치), especially before winter. This labor-intensive process is rooted in the tight-knit rural communities of the past, yet the culinary and social bonding benefits of kimjang remain a treasured aspect of Korean culture today.

This annual kimjang partnership between the KCCDC and MOAPIA marks more than a decade since the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed Kimjang on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2013. Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and other states also already recognize Kimchi Day on November 22, as does Korea, and the U.S. Congress is considering a similar national designation.