Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival: A Yearly Event That Lets You Go Winter Fishing & Huddle Up In Light-Up Igloos

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival

The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival is an annual festival held in the Alps Village, in Chungcheongnam-do Province, and is open to the public from December to February every year.

With snow sculptures and kid-friendly activities, the annual festival is the prime place to revel in the wonders of the winter season. 

Mesmerising ice sculptures

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Unleash your inner Elsa in front of the majestic ice fountain, which is a sight to behold. For the lovebirds, the festival also makes for a romantic date activity, so bring your significant other along for an unforgettable experience. 

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Cartoon snow sculptures

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The Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival has snow sculptures of well-known children cartoons, like Pororo and Larva, which is bound to excite many children. 

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This year, the festival even had a giant sculpture of the doll from the Squid Game, and we think that she’s still creepy even in snow form. 

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No winter wonderlands will be complete without a sculpture of the Snow Queen Elsa herself, and Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival truly delivered this year. 

Kid-friendly activities to do at the Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival

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Besides admiring sculptures, visitors can also go smelt fishing at the festival, and even cook it onsite for a piping hot meal. 

Video adapted from: @miniwoni_jjang_q

Engage in thrilling activities such as sledding and ziplining for an adrenaline rush as you glide through the cold air. These activities are kid-friendly, so bring along your children and forge new core memories with them. 

Image credit: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

At night, the igloos and various sculptures are lit up, and they look extra magical when you get to huddle inside for a little breather. 

Interior of the igloo
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Video adapted from: @hyejin.k_2075

Under a canopy of colourful lights, you can ride on a slide made of ice and enjoy the breathtaking scenery at night. 

Hot winter treats at the festival

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To beat the cold, visitors can seek comfort in a pack of freshly roasted chestnuts, which is a beloved winter treat in South Korea. 

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Roasted sweet potatoes and corn are also available at the ice fountain festival for visitors who need to fill their stomachs and warm themselves up. 

Chilgapsan Ice Fountain Festival in Korea

The annual festival is loved by children and grown-ups alike, and it is the perfect place to add to your itinerary if you are visiting during the winter months from late December to February. 

Address: 174 Cheonjang-ri, Jeongsan-myeon, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
Opening hours: 9am-5pm, Daily (Subjected to change)
Contact: 041-942-0797 | Website

Also check out: 

• Korean ski resorts near Seoul
• New Samcheong Baskin Robbins store in a Hanok
• Haeundae Blueline Park in Busan
• 9 mountains to hike in Seoul & other parts of South Korea
• Cultural complex at Anyoung Insadong

Cover image adapted from: @hyejin.k_2075 and @minxx_x_