Chuncheon Offers Plenty to See During the Early October Extended Holiday: Animation Toy Festival, Lake Festival and City Tour

【Financial News Chuncheon—Reporter Kim Ki-seop】Chuncheon will be filled with family festivals, autumn trips, and coffee and jazz events in early October, when the extended holiday period continues. The Chuncheon Animation Toy Festival, now in its 29th year, will begin on October 3 around the Animation Museum. At Gongjicheon, the Gongjicheon Lake Festival, which brings together coffee, jazz and gardens, will be held for the first time beginning October 9. The Autumn Welcome Tour, linking autumn foliage spots with traditional market days, will begin operating on October 2.
◇Chuncheon Animation Toy Festival Brings Performances, Play and AI Experiences Together
The Chuncheon Animation Toy Festival, a family-oriented event themed around animation and toys, will be held from October 3 to 5 around the Animation Museum. At the opening ceremony at 2 p.m. on October 3, the winning entries from an animation contest created with generative artificial intelligence (AI) will be screened, followed by a special magic show by magician Choi Hyun-woo. The main stage will feature the Bebefinn Happy Concert, the GoGo Dino Sing-Along Show, YouTuber INSSA Family, which has 1 million subscribers, and Chuncheon's own YouTuber Ppangsin TV.
The lawn plaza will feature large inflatable play structures and 12 types of eco-friendly wooden playground equipment. A retro arcade and a nostalgic old-fashioned stationery store will also be set up to evoke memories for parents. Visitors can create their own characters using artificial intelligence, experience virtual reality and drones, and visit a toy market that transforms discarded toys into new ones. The main hands-on programs are free, and the city recommends using public transportation because parking is limited.


◇Autumn Welcome Tour Links Fall Foliage Spots with Traditional Market Days
The Autumn Welcome Tour will operate on two routes for a total of 24 trips from October 2 to November 29. On the 2nd and 7th, the market days at Chuncheon Pungmul Market, one route will depart from Chuncheon Station and visit Geumbyeongsan Mountain, Chuncheon Pungmul Market, Soyang Art Circle and Soyanggang Skywalk. On the 4th and 9th, the market days at Saembat Market, another route will connect Cheongpyeongsa Temple, Saembat Market, Sinbuk Dakgalbi Village and Gangwon Provincial Arboretum.
The tour operates from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The standard fare is 6,000 won, while preschool children, people aged 65 or older, people with disabilities and other eligible groups can receive a discounted fare of 4,000 won. Reservations can be made through the Chuncheon City Tour website or at the Chuncheon Tourist Information Center.

◇Gongjicheon Lake Festival: Follow the Aroma of Coffee to the Sound of Jazz
The Gongjicheon Lake Festival, being held for the first time this year, will take place from October 9 to 11 along the Gongjicheon promenade and around 586 Onui-dong, in cooperation with the Chuncheon Cultural Foundation. Its distinguishing feature is the way it brings together the Gongjicheon Jazz Festa, Chuncheon Coffee Festa and Chuncheon Lake Garden Festa so visitors can enjoy them naturally along the promenade. The unified concept is "Secret Garden."
The Coffee Festa, which will feature 26 local coffee and dessert businesses, will offer activities such as a latte art competition and hand-net roasting. A tasting pop-up for "Gongji Chuncheon," the signature blend of the Chuncheon Coffee Association, will also be held. The Jazz Festa will feature Jeong Mi Jo, French jazz vocalist Camille Bertault, and Park Joo-won & Gypsy Band. At the Lake Garden Festa, visitors can tour civic gardens cultivated by 10 teams of residents and students, as well as corporate gardens created by garden and landscaping companies.
Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han said, "We brought the three festivals together so that along the Gongjicheon promenade, visitors can enjoy Chuncheon's coffee and gardens cultivated by residents during the day, and jazz stages by the lakeside after sunset." He added, "I hope you will take your time in Chuncheon this fall, which also features the Animation Toy Festival and the Autumn Welcome Tour, and make wonderful memories."

[email protected] Kim Ki-seop Reporter