Air Partner Magazine A/W 25 US - Flipbook - Page 59
A/W 2025
ST R E E T S P U L S E W I T H
T HE R H Y T H M O F D R U M S ,
T R U M P E T S , AND G O N G S
More than just a visual feast, the Seoul Lantern
Festival is a triumph of history, artistry, and storytelling.
Each lantern carries meaning, some steeped in
centuries of tradition, others re昀氀ecting the country’s
vibrant, ever-evolving culture. For a richer connection,
visitors can even participate in private lantern-making
workshops under the guidance of master artisans.
As for the city itself, the high-end malls make
for excellent holiday shopping spots, while the
thriving K-culture, luxury wellness o昀昀erings, and
mouthwatering cuisine ensure there’s as much to
savor by day as there is after dark.
SINULOG FESTIVAL
Cebu, Philippines
Each January, the streets of Cebu erupt in color,
music, and dance for the Sinulog Festival, one of the
Philippines’ most spectacular celebrations. Honoring
the Santo Niño (Holy Child Jesus), the festival’s origins
are 昀椀rmly in faith, but you don’t have to share the belief
to be swept up in its energy and warmth.
The festivities kick o昀昀 with the Fluvial Procession, as
Spectacular 昀椀reworks at the
end of the Sinulog Festival.
the Santo Niño statue is carried across the Mactan
Channel in a shimmering pageant of hundreds of
昀氀ower-draped boats. The following day, the Grand
Parade takes center stage, and the streets pulse
SEOUL LANTERN FESTIVAL
with the rhythm of drums, trumpets, and native
Seoul, South Korea
gongs. Extravagant 昀氀oats glide past, and thousands
Heralded as one of Asia’s most stylish and dynamic
cities, a visit to Seoul is always exceptional. But
when winter falls and the Cheonggyecheon Stream
transforms into a glowing channel of light, it becomes
nothing short of breathtaking. During the Seoul
Lantern Festival, hundreds of meticulously crafted
life-size lanterns, depicting everything from ancient
Korean folktales to historical moments and whimsical
Lanterns in all shapes and sizes
at the Seoul Lantern Festival.
of costumed dancers perform traditional routines,
including the famous Sinulog step – two steps forward,
one step back – inspired by the movement of the
Cebu River and a reminder of life’s own ebb and 昀氀ow.
In 2025, a record-breaking crowd of over four million
attended this lively, Mardi Gras-style parade.
For those eager to delve deeper, Cebu’s cultural
vibrancy extends far beyond the festivities. Art
modern scenes, line the glistening waterways.
exhibitions spill into public spaces, markets brim
Alongside them, striking art installations and dazzling
with treasures, and the culinary scene is rich in both
LED displays further illuminate the city. In 2024, the
heritage and innovation. Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort &
festival proved so popular that it ran for an entire
Spa provides a plush sanctuary in which to relax after
month from mid-December.
the celebrations.
59
