Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival

*The festival information below is for the 2026 festival, and information for the 2027 festival is currently being updated.* Held in Hwacheon, Gangwon State, the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is a distinctive winter festival selected by CNN in the United States in 2011 as one of the “7 Wonders of Winter.” The festival takes place every January when the Hwacheoncheon Stream, renowned for its clear water, freezes solid. Visitors can catch sancheoneo, known as the queen of the valleys, through activities such as ice fishing and bare-handed catching. In addition to the thrill of sancheoneo ice fishing, visitors can enjoy their catch immediately as sashimi or grilled fish. Various winter activities such as ice sledding, snow sledding, and bobsledding are also offered, drawing more than 1000000 visitors each year.