The HBC Fall Festival returns to the Haebangchon and Gyeongnidan areas of Seoul this weekend with more than 100 live acts.

But the busiest of them will likely be returning expat comedian Brian Aylward, who is trying to perform at all of the festival’s 21 venues.

The festival has been run each spring and autumn in Haebangchon, near Itaewon, since 2008, and expanded this year to include venues in Gyeongnidan. This fall’s event will have its opening show at Thunderhorse Tavern on Thursday at 8 p.m.

Aylward, who cut his teeth in comedy while working as an expat in Korea, now works in Canada as a comedian and writer. After warming up at the VFW Canteen on Friday night, he will begin his comedy odyssey by performing 10-minute sets in quick succession across the remaining venues.

Five other venues will be running Friday night shows ― Camarata Studios, Thunderhorse Tavern, Fix Pub, Rabbit Hole and Phillies ― before the main event on Saturday.

The Friday evening performances start at 9 p.m., while the Saturday shows begin around 3 p.m. and end midnight.

The festival will close with afternoon sessions at Craftworks Taphouse and the Hidden Cellar, before a Jam Session at 8 p.m. in Phillies Pub.

Entrance to the festival venues is free. For a complete schedule of performances, visit www.koreamusicweek.com.

By Paul Kerry (paulkerry@heraldcorp.com)