▲ The 1st Big Hug Day takes place May 20 from 3pm at The Kensington resort in Seogwipo.

Families and friends are invited to get together with local residents for the first Big Hug Day festival.

Live music, arts performances and stalls are among the programme of events taking place at the Kensington resort in Daecheon-dong from 3pm to 10pm on Friday, May 20.

Activities start with a flea market from 3pm to 6pm with 40 stallholders alongside entertainers including a gold dol-harubang hugging statue and other performers.

From 7pm to 9pm some 50 artists will provide music, dancing, painting, playacting and magic shows from the Big Hug Stage.

Fusion Korean music group Dulsori, violinist Simon J Powell, traditional Korean singer Jung Ae-sun will provide some of the musical entertainment.

Other activities include juggling, a bubble show, poetry readings and exhibitions by artist Cosmos and painter Lim Geun-woo.

The festival will culminate with a big hug dance party from 9pm to 10pm.

Big Hug Day is sponsored by Ministry of the Interior and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province.