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Global Winter Festival: 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival Opens for 23-Day Season
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival, designated a global festival by the Ministry of Culture, opens on January 10 and runs for 23 days until February 1. Held along Hwacheoncheon and Seondeung Street, the festival’s main attraction is the sancheoneo (a local trout) experience, including ice fishing and bare-hand catching. Activities run day and night, with a dedicated fishing area and rest zone for international visitors. Visitors can enjoy snow and ice attractions such as tube sleds on a 40m slope and 60m ice track, traditional Korean ice sleds, an “ice bobsled” tube ride, ice soccer, curling, figure skating, and a sky-cutting aerial experience. The indoor plaza features scaled-down international winter displays: Harbin-style ice lanterns crafted by Chinese artisans, Sapporo-like snow sculptures, and a Finnish Santa post office—complete with a “real Santa” from Rovaniemi. Nightly lantern festivals draw inspiration from Quebec’s Winter Carnival. Since its start in 2003 and global recognition after 2011 CNN coverage, the festival attracts around 100,000 foreign visitors annually, aided by targeted promotion in Southeast Asia. Organizers emphasize safety amid climate change, performing nightly ice maintenance, underwater inspections, and real-time monitoring of pumps and drainage. This year will limit the number and spacing of ice holes to prioritize safety over capacity. Local officials continue strict oversight to ensure a safe, enjoyable event for guests.
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