By Eryk Michael Smith / Staff
KAOHSIUNG – The city’s Economic Development Bureau (高雄市政府經濟發展局) said last year’s four-day Xmas Festival drew more than 360,000 visitors and generated over NT$10 million across Central Park, Xin-jue-jiang, and Liuhe Night Market. With five consecutive concert nights, expanded artist rosters, and three weeks of Christmas markets, officials are targeting new records for both foot traffic and retail revenue.
During the upcoming “Christmas Golden Week,” running from December 20 to Christmas Day, Christmas markets will take over Central Park, with more than one hundred curated stalls, food vendors, and pop-up artists. The festival is coordinated with nearby commercial zones, including Xin-Jue-Jiang (新崛江) and Liuhe Night Market (六合夜市), to maximize evening foot traffic and retail spillover.
Music will be a big part of the week. Visitors will enjoy performances from pop and indie bands, as well as solo artists, nightly through Christmas Eve. More than 20 additional acts will be announced, along with seasonal discount tie-ins for surrounding commercial zones. On December 25, the Kaohsiung Christian Evangelical Alliance will host a free show, extending programming through the full holiday week.
Kaohsiung officials say the Christmas Festival now ranks as southern Taiwan’s largest year-end cultural gathering and a major driver of downtown visitation during the winter tourism season.
