From December 23 to 25, abundant festive foods like wine and desserts to match the Christmas atmosphere... Around the government office, a 'Tunnel of Light' with Milky Way lights and large Santa photo zones... 5-10% discounts at nearby restaurants through events
Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Lee Soon-hee) will hold the 2023 Gangbuk Christmas Market ‘Naega Geurin Santa’ from the 23rd to the 25th around the Gangbuk-gu Office area.
‘Naega Geurin Santa,’ introduced for the first time this year, is a Christmas event jointly organized by the district, local businesses, and artists. It was prepared to revitalize the local economy and commercial districts by utilizing Christmas, which has established itself as a popular culture beyond its religious meaning.
During the three days of the event (2 PM to 9 PM on the 23rd, 1 PM to 9 PM on the 24th and 25th), various programs will be held around the district office, including a flea market featuring products from small business owners and local artisans’ handmade crafts, wine and food booths, busking performances by local artists, and events linked to the local commercial district.
Christmas-themed photo zones to enjoy the festive atmosphere throughout the Gangbuk-gu Office area
First, Christmas photo zones will be set up throughout the Gangbuk-gu Office area. Dobong-ro 89-gil in front of the district office will be transformed into a ‘Tunnel of Light’ brightly illuminated with Milky Way lights, and around the tunnel, sculptures such as snowmen, street lamp music boxes, and Christmas trees will be installed to evoke a strong year-end Christmas atmosphere.
The flower beds at the Gangbuk-gu Office building will be decorated with Christmas trees and illuminated deer sculptures, and the parking tower located in the office plaza will be transformed into a large Christmas gift box using landscape lighting.
At the main entrance of the Gangbuk-gu Office building, a photo zone and Santa stage using a green Santa-shaped Aero Balloon Robot (ABR) will be created. Here, the opening lighting ceremony (7 PM on the 23rd), busking performances by local artists, and citizen participation recreation with Green Santa will take place.
Abundant food and drink including wine and desserts at Gangbuk-gu Office plaza
At the Gangbuk-gu Office plaza, a Christmas market selling food and drinks such as wine and desserts suitable for the Christmas atmosphere will be operated. Twelve businesses operating cafes and bakeries in Gangbuk-gu will participate in the market, offering a variety of desserts including handmade candies, cookies, jambon-beurre sandwiches, and cakes.
Additionally, food booths and a food truck zone will feature vendors from Baeknyeon Market, Suyu Traditional Market, and food truck merchants selling various foods such as egg bread, fish cake, and tacos. The wine booth will sell domestic wines from Chungbuk Yeongdong-gun, Jeonbuk Muju-gun, Wine Korea, as well as wines from Bordeaux, France, with which a friendship cooperation agreement was signed in May this year.
Moreover, a craft flea market operated by six local workshops will offer handmade products such as candles, zero-waste items, and felt dolls, and experience programs like handmade soap making and icing cookie decorating will be available for families, couples, and anyone interested.
In addition, a 12-seat carousel ride will be operated in the office plaza, and the market stage inside the plaza will provide abundant entertainment through Christmas busking performances by local artists and a citizen participation auction event called ‘Green Santa Shoots!’
Events linked to local commercial districts... 5-10% discounts at restaurants
During the event period, events linked to the local commercial districts will also be held. Visitors to the Christmas Market who bring the leaflet distributed at the event can receive a 5-10% discount or services equivalent to the discount amount at about 70 restaurants in the Suyu commercial district, and free wine corkage is available at about 20 places. Detailed information on participating businesses and discount rates can be found on the Gangbuk-gu website.
Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We have organized the event program so that everyone can enjoy the Christmas year-end in Gangbuk-gu through various foods and performances, and we hope many people will participate in the event and enjoy the warm year-end atmosphere.” She added, “We will also do our best to build a distinctive commercial district and further revitalize the local economy.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
