Hwacheon County Captivates Stay-Over Tourists with the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival
Catch the Largest Fish and Win a Gold Ring... Unique Night Fishing Draws Crowds
Sundeung Street Festival: A Fantastic Harmony of Light and Ice
Abundant Entertainment with Performances and Shows... Nighttime Events Boost the Local Economy
The 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival is captivating tourists even at night with a wide array of content.
Tourists are enjoying night fishing at the 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival on the 17th. Provided by Hwacheon County
Tourists are enjoying night fishing at the 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival on the 17th. Provided by Hwacheon County
The Sundeung Street Festival, held every Saturday, continues to boast an unrelenting enthusiasm this year as well.
This year’s festival features even more enhanced performances, exhibitions, shows, entertainment, food, and tourist participation programs compared to last year, attracting thousands of visitors to the city center each time.
As a result, the increased stay time of tourists has led to expanded local consumption and a rise in weekend overnight visitors, contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.
On the night of the 17th, the festival drew attention with the appearance of the real Santa Claus and elf from Rovaniemi, Finland.
Vibrant performances by popular DJs and magic shows for families are also drawing crowds of tourists.
Food trucks offering delicious street food have set up shop to cater to festivalgoers looking for a break from the festivities on Sundeung Street.
Thorough preparations have also been made for the risks of cold weather and crowd congestion.
Heating devices have been installed and are operating throughout Sundeung Street, while staff from Hwacheon Police Station and Hwacheon County Office are conducting seamless patrols and traffic control to ensure safety.
Tourists are enjoying night fishing at the 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival on the 17th. Provided by Hwacheon County
Tourists are enjoying night fishing at the 2026 Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival on the 17th. Provided by Hwacheon County
The unique night fishing program is also proving popular.
While the daytime ice fishing area of the Sancheoneo Festival closes daily at 6 p.m., the night fishing area opens immediately after, starting at 7 p.m.
Despite the cold, around 300 tourists on weekdays and about 1,000 on weekends are competing to catch mountain trout during the night fishing sessions.
Those who catch the largest fish of the day have a chance to win a gold ring.
As of the 17th, the eighth day since the festival opened, a total of 3,623 people have participated in night fishing.
Notably, more than 60% of these, or 2,334 people, enjoyed free admission by submitting receipts for local accommodation.
Choi Moonsoon, Mayor of Hwacheon County, said, "The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Festival is not just about ice fishing; it is a vast playground filled with entertainment both day and night. I highly recommend visiting with your family or loved ones to create wonderful memories."
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