Hwacheon County to Host 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival for 23 Days
Slogan: "Warm Hearts in the Cold, Memories That Never Melt"
From Sancheoneo Fishing to Ice Sculptures, Packed with Attractions
Sancheoneo Experiences and Seondeung Street
The "2026 Ice Country Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival," recognized as Korea's premier winter festival, will be held for 23 days from January 10 to February 1 next year.
Hwacheon County in Gangwon Province and the Nara Foundation recently held a basic festival planning meeting and a board of directors meeting, officially beginning preparations for the event.
With the slogan "Warm Hearts That Never Freeze, Memories That Never Melt," the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival will be filled with the best attractions to enjoy snow and ice.
The festival will feature its signature programs, including ice fishing for sancheoneo (mountain trout) and barehanded trout catching, an indoor ice sculpture plaza reminiscent of the Harbin Ice Lantern Festival, massive snow sculptures rivaling those of the Sapporo Snow Festival, and the Seondeung Street Festival held every weekend evening.
In addition, the "Real Santa" team from Santa Village in Rovaniemi, Finland, will visit Hwacheon to spend joyful moments with children.
Visitors can enjoy sancheoneo ice fishing through on-site registration or advance reservations, and freshly caught sancheoneo can be savored at the festival’s grilling and sashimi centers.
On the festival’s ice field, a 40-meter slope sledding hill will be installed, allowing tourists to slide down a total distance of 140 meters.
Other attractions across the festival grounds will include a zipline crossing the venue, the Eolgomi Castle slide, Korea’s longest ice bobsleigh, a global ice sledding experience, ice soccer and park golf, skating, and more, ensuring a wide array of events for everyone.
'2025 2025 Ice Country Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival' Indoor Ice Sculpture Plaza. Provided by Hwacheon County
To boost the local economy, park golf free rounds, complimentary night fishing, and weekday ice fishing experiences will be offered to visitors staying overnight in the area.
The Hwacheon Love Gift Certificates, which are refunded to paying visitors, can be used like cash within the region, while agricultural and specialty product exchange vouchers can be redeemed at sales facilities inside the festival grounds.
Choi Moonsun, Mayor of Hwacheon County and Chairman of the Nara Foundation, stated, "We will reward domestic and international tourists who have been waiting for the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival over the past year with the best possible enjoyment," adding, "We are making every effort to ensure safety is our top priority during preparations."
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