An event where people run through a downtown Daegu park in midsummer and then enjoy chicken and beer will be held for the first time. In Daegu, nicknamed "Daefrica" for its sweltering heat, the so-called "Chimaek Run," which combines running with chicken and beer, will make its debut.
Daegu city said on the 24th it will hold the Daegu Chimaek Festival for five days starting July 1 around Duryu Park in Dalseo District. The Chimaek Festival is an event to enjoy chicken and beer together, launched in 2013 and now in its 14th year. Organizers estimated that more than 1 million people visited the venue last year.
The most eye-catching event this year is the First Daefrica Chimaek Run on the 30th, the day before the festival. Participants will run a 5.5-kilometer course around Duryu Park and then enjoy chicken and beer. The event uses Daegu's image, known for its summer heat, as festival content.
This year's festival slogan is "Chimaek26 (takeoff)." At the festival entrance, an installation reminiscent of airport immigration will be set up. The venue will be divided into four zones: the 2·28 Freedom Square, the memorial tower parking lot, the Duryu Park area, and the Kolon outdoor music hall.
The main venue, 2·28 Freedom Square, will be arranged as an experience space with a "Daefrica Waterpia" concept. On the first day of the event on the 1st, FTISLAND will open the stage, followed by N.Flying on the 2nd, 10CM on the 3rd, Wonstein and Hangzoo on the 4th, and Car, the garden and Park Myung-soo on the 5th.
A Premium Advance-Reservation Zone, where people can enjoy chimaek and performances up close to the stage, will also operate. The price is 85,000 won for up to four people, and each table comes with six cans of beer and festival goods. Most seats for the festival period are currently sold out. Canceled seats can be booked starting seven days before the festival.
Users of the advance-reservation zone can get discounted admission to E-WORLD, Daegu's signature amusement park. The all-day pass drops to 24,500 won from 49,000 won, and the night pass to 17,500 won from 35,000 won. The discount period runs from July 1 to 31. On Saturday, July 4 in the evening, E-WORLD fireworks are also scheduled.
At the memorial tower parking lot, the Chimaek Sing-along Club, which combines DJ performances with mass sing-alongs, will be held. Around Duryu Park, a K-Chimaek Culture Street for photo ops will be created, and the Kolon outdoor music hall will be arranged as a relaxation space where the festival can be enjoyed even in rain or extreme heat.
Collaborative products targeting younger people are also coming out. In collaboration with the popular artist KKEKK, the festival plans to showcase goods such as magnets, bags, cool towels, and chicken-figure keychains.
A Daegu city official said, "This year's festival will be a turning point to take another leap forward through new content and spatial production," adding, "We will enhance content competitiveness so it can grow into a global festival where people around the world come together through chimaek."