Kaohsiung's 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' Festival Moves to Hamasen in July; Vendor Recruitment Begins

(CNA, Kaohsiung, May 21, by reporter Tsai Meng-yu) The 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' ice cream carnival, organized by the Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau, will take place in Hamasen this July. The Tourism Bureau has begun recruiting vendors today, inviting popular ice cream brands, classic local shops, and unique food trucks from all over Taiwan to apply. Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin stated that after years of cultivation, Kaohsiung's 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' has become one of Taiwan's most representative summer tourism brands. Last year's two-day event attracted over 50,000 visitors and boosted business for surrounding stores and commercial districts by 30 to 50 percent, successfully creating a tourism and consumption boom. Kao Min-lin pointed out that this year's event is expected to bring together nearly 50 ice cream and food brands to create a trendy market. It will also incorporate Hamasen's 'century-old ice-making industry history' to launch a 'Hamasen Walking Tour.' Concurrently, it will link with commercial district discounts and collaborate with local shops, allowing the public to not only enjoy ice treats but also gain a deeper understanding of Hamasen's history and industrial culture. The Tourism Bureau announced in a press release today that the 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' will be held in Hamasen this July. Vendor recruitment starts immediately, inviting popular ice cream brands, classic local shops, creative ice cream artisans, and unique food trucks to apply to jointly create Southern Taiwan's most iconic ice cream carnival and capture the summer cooling business opportunities. The Tourism Bureau explained that due to the limited number of stalls, the event will use a review system, and participating vendors must comply with the Health Bureau's inspection standards. They urge interested brands and artisans to apply in a timely manner. The Tourism Bureau stated it will collaborate with the Kaohsiung City Health Bureau to conduct food hygiene counseling and inspections for the ice cream vendors at the 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' market. They will strictly control everything from the ice cream making process, ice source, and ingredient storage temperatures to on-site environmental hygiene to ensure the public can enjoy cool treats with peace of mind. The application period for the 2026 'Great Harbor Ice Reading' is from now until June 15. Event information can be found on the Kaohsiung City Government's 'Kaohsiung Travel' official website, official Facebook, Instagram social media platforms, or the 'Kaohsiung GO!' app. (Editor: Chang Ya-ching) 1150521