[8] The festival coincides with Mu:Con, another Korean music showcase more closely run by the government, and foreign delegates are able to attend both.

Zandari means "small bridge," and its presence is still marked in local neighborhoods Seogyo-dong and Donggyo-dong, signifying the west and east sides of a stream that used to run through the area.

The Hongdae area had been known as ground zero for Korea's indie music scene,[13] but gentrification has weakened its prominence.

In 2017, Elis Paprika became the first Mexican artist to perform at Zandari Festa, with a show at SangSang Madang.

In 2013, K-pop group Crayon Pop made a surprise appearance, performing with metal band L.O.D.