Osan City Opens '2025 Oh! Happy Santa Market' on the 22nd

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Osan City's signature winter festival '2025 Oh! Happy Santa Market,' hosted by Osan City and organized by the Osan Culture Foundation, will be held from the 22nd through December 31st at Osan Station Square and throughout the Arumda commercial district.

The opening parade that kicks off this year's festival will proceed over a total 1km stretch starting from Osan City Hall, passing through Lotte Mart Intersection and Shinyang Apartment Intersection, and ending at Osan Station Square.

The parade will feature nine citizen Santas recruited through recommendations from the local community, as well as citizen parade groups from Osan City's eight districts. At key locations, professional performers (WithYou Company) will also present flash mobs to heighten the festival atmosphere. The procession will continue directly to Santa Fairy Tale Village at Osan Station Square, where the opening ceremony will take place.

In particular, a 'sledding rink,' an urban winter recreational facility, will debut at Osan Station Square this year. Combined with various food booths and family-oriented residential programs, the festival has been designed to naturally encourage visitors and citizens to stay longer.

Performance programming has also expanded citizen participation. Through advance recruitment, programs such as <Carol Fantasia> and <Oh! Osan Station, Oh! Open Stage> busking are offered, allowing visitors to enjoy not only professional performances but also stages by citizen artists. Additionally, a <Decorate Your Own Tree> contest was launched, where individuals can directly hang handmade ornaments on a large tree, further expanding citizen participation.

The Arumda (Snow Flower Street) section will feature sales booths for Christmas decorations and character merchandise, various experiential programs, food booths run by local merchants, and chicken event booths, offering a market-style festival that adds to the winter atmosphere.

Mayor Yi Gwon-jae stated, "We will develop it into Osan's signature winter festival that comes to mind naturally when winter arrives," and added, "I wish to present citizens with unique experiences and performances unfolding throughout the downtown area, along with differentiated winter romance."