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Festival

Tomato Festival

Welcome to happy hearts, exciting life and bright Hwacheon-gun.

Aug. every year

Tomato Festival

Meet Joyful Hwacheon

  • Location: the whole of downtown Sachang-ri, Sanae-myeon
  • Homepage: www.tomatofestival.co.kr
  • About the Festival: You can enjoy unique attractions and
    walk the streets while admiring tomatoes as representative
    agricultural products.

Festival Story

The Hwacheon Tomato Festival, which started in 2003 in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, is held in downtown Sachang-ri, Sanae-myeon, ​Hwacheon-gun every August. It is hosted by Hwacheon-gun and the Hwacheon Tomato Farming Association, organized by the Hwacheon Tomato Festival Promotion Committee, and sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Hwacheon-gun.

On the eve of the main event, a declaration of the festival, Pungmulnori (Korean folk play), in which Hwacheon-gun residents get along in harmony, and a tomato singing contest are held. You can enjoy a variety of unique attractions using tomatoes, which are representative agricultural products in the region.

Transportation Information

  • By car

    Enter the address Sanae-myeon,​
    Hwacheon-gun into your navigation system

  • By bus

    Take the bus to Sachang-ri
    from Chun Cheon Bus Terminal.

  • By Gyeongchun Line
    • General Subway: Depart from Sangbong
      Station (runs every 20 minutes). Get off
      at Namchuncheon Station and take a bus
      to Sachang-ri, Sanae-myeon from
      Chun Cheon Bus Terminal.
    • For ITX-Cheongchun: depart from
      Yongsan or Cheongnyangni. Get off at
      Namchuncheon Station and get on the bus
      to Sachang-ri at Chun Cheon Bus Terminal.

The festival spot: Memories of an exciting summer day

The Tomato Festival, which started in 2003, is more than 10 years old. The original tomato festival, which started in a small town in Spain, was adopted by Sangchang-ri of Hwacheon to increase the brand value and profit from its tomatoes.

One of the representative fruits of summer, Hwacheon's tomatoes from Hwaaksan Mountain are grown in a quasi-highland area (elevation: 400m –600m) and are characterized by their firmness, high sugar content, and long-lasting freshness. Tomatoes to be used for the festival are those whose commodity value has fallen, which were gathered, and those gathered solely for the event, and it is said that about 50 tons are collected for the event.

A highlight of the festival is "Find the Golden Ring," an event during which tomatoes with firm tecture are thrown. While throwing tomatoes, participants must also search for golden rings. While you open your eyes wide looking for the golden rings, you may be confused whether you are looking for a ring or a tomato. The fire truck sprinkles cool water to keep you alert. While you are enjoying looking for a golden ring on a place where it seems to be covered with red carpet, where is the lucky flower ring that you can get 1 don (3.75g) of gold among so many tomatoes?

It is a festival that does not have a festival hall, but instead occupies the roads of downtown in Sachang-ri, so participants as well as viewers can enjoy it fully. A couples dancing game is also awarded 3 boxes of tomatoes for the lucky winners.

The swimming pool for children is also popular. Children do not seem to care about being under the hot sun in August. Smiles also appear on the faces of parents watching children playing happily. At the venue, people are busy with events such as trying on tomato packs, produce tasting, and planting tomato seedlings.

The tomato festival makes adults, children, and foreigners alike reminisce on their childhoods. While children are reluctant to go into the tomato at first, they get used to it quickly. Tomatoes, which taste good and are good for the body, are definitely a valuable food, but wouldn’t it be nice to be using them for both eating and playing? If it helps the local economy, the tomato festival will grow and become more exciting. It is a festival that recalls memories of midsummer, made in the midst of the innocence of childhood.


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