Yukigassen Festivals

Yukigassen Festivals

February and MarchYukigassen contests are organized snowball fights. They take place in several countries, including Japan and Finland. The Mt. ShowaShinzan International Yukigassen takes place in Sobetsu, Hokkaido Prefecture, Japan, each February. The event began in 1988, and consists of matches between two teams of seven players, each armed with 90 snowballs. Teams compete in rounds of plays until one emerges as the overall winner and is awarded a cup.
In 1995 the town of Kemijärvi, Lappi Province, Finland, inspired by its sister city of Sobetsu, began to host its own Yukigassen competition. Its festival, held in March, also attracts competitors from around the world.
CONTACTS:
ShowaShinzan International Yukigassen Executive Committee
Sobetsu Town Office
Aza Takinomachi 245, Sobetsu-cho, Usu-gun
Hokkaido, 052-0101 Japan
81-1-4266-2244; fax: 81-1-4266-7001
www.town.sobetsu.lg.jp
City of Kemijarvi
Kemijarvi City Tourist Office
Kuumaniemenkatu 2 A
Kemijarvi, 98100 Finland
358-16-8783-94; fax: 358-16-8782-91
www.kemijarvi.fi