Gangwon Winter Festivals TOP 3 – Where Snow and Ice Define the Season

Winter in Gangwon Province is not just cold—it is deeply seasonal.
Snow piles up, rivers freeze, and entire towns shape their winter around these conditions.

Rather than temporary events, Gangwon’s winter festivals are rooted in place.
The landscape determines the experience.

Below are three winter festivals that best represent Gangwon’s winter,
based on festival content, location, and why each place truly works in winter.

Taebaeksan Snow Festival

Snow sculptures depicting people in winter clothing at a Gangwon winter festival, carved from packed snow against a snowy outdoor backdrop

This festival is defined by scale and atmosphere rather than hands-on activities.
Large snow sculptures are displayed against the backdrop of Taebaeksan Mountain,
with snow itself becoming the main attraction.

The festival takes place in Taebaek, a high-altitude city where winter temperatures are low enough for snow to remain stable throughout the season.
This allows massive snow sculptures to maintain their form for the entire festival period.

What makes this festival stand out is its calm and restrained atmosphere.
There is less noise and commercial activity, and more space to simply observe the winter landscape.

Official website:
https://www.tbsnow.co.kr/

Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong Snow Festival

Ice slide lanes made of clear ice blocks at a winter festival in Gangwon Province, surrounded by snow-covered ground

The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival is designed around family-friendly winter play.
Snow slides, snow-based activities, and simple hands-on experiences are the focus.

Located in an alpine village in Pyeongchang, the festival blends naturally into everyday village life.
The setting feels lived-in rather than staged, with the surrounding mountains always in view.

This festival works especially well for families traveling with children.
The layout is compact, walking distances are short, and snowfall levels are reliable enough to support consistent winter activities.

Official website:
https://www.snowfestival.net/

Hongcheon River Ggongeo Festival

Ice fishing hole drilled into a frozen river in Gangwon Province, with fishing gear positioned above the ice

This festival begins only when the Hongcheon River freezes solid.
The main attraction is ice fishing, combined with sledding and winter play activities directly on the frozen river.

Because the festival takes place on a natural river rather than a constructed venue,
the sense of winter is immediate and physical. Visitors are not just observing winter—they are standing on it.

The atmosphere is closer to a local community festival than a large tourist event.
This makes the experience especially memorable for children and for travelers looking for active winter participation.

Official website:
https://xn--9y5b95fmvab9w.kr/Home/H60000/festival

Choosing the right festival depends on the kind of winter experience you want.

For quiet scenery and large-scale snow landscapes, Taebaeksan Snow Festival is the best fit.
For family-focused winter play in a village setting, Daegwallyeong Snow Festival works well.
For hands-on ice experiences on a frozen river, Hongcheon River Ggongeo Festival offers something different.

Each festival reflects a distinct side of Gangwon’s winter, shaped by snow depth, temperature, and terrain.