by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Winter Wonderland is the first real family festival at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre since it reopened earlier this year, so event organizers have gone to great lengths to make it unique and unforgettable. They’ve certainly succeeded. My family and I headed over to Winter Wonderland on its opening night and were blown away by how much this new First Coast tradition had to offer.
Once you find a parking space and enter the facility, your first stop should be one of the extremely helpful guideposts which will point you in the direction of all that the event has to offer. If you head left from the entrance you’ll come to an adorable elf village, consisting of about five little decorated houses thus far. These tiny domiciles were created by local businesses and individuals and will eventually be judged by guests. Just beyond the village is where Santa Claus hangs out. Parents and restless youngsters began lining up to see the jolly old elf almost immediately and there was a good 10-minute wait for most of the night. Kids were able to share their Christmas wishes with St. Nick while moms and dads happily snapped (free) photos of their children with the tubby icon. After sitting on Santa’s knee, many took a trip down “Candy Cane Lane,” a short loop decorated with brightly colored candy canes and illuminated wildlife.
The right side of the Amphitheatre is home to the Community Stage where storytelling and musical performances will take place during the festivities. Continuing down the right pathway will take you to the fire pits, where you can get warm or, better yet, make some s’mores. A nearby vendor sells s’mores-making stuff and other holiday goodies. Just beyond the fire pits is the facility’s Legacy Room, where Theatre Saint Augustine will be performing Gift of the Magi on the weekends (read the review on page 26).
Heading straight will take you to one of the most popular activities Winter Wonderland offers: the ice skating rink. This is the very first outdoor ice skating rink in St. Augustine history and it seems nearly everyone who attended opening night wanted to say they skated on it. The line to try out the rink was by far the longest of the night. When 9 pm rolled around, skaters got an additional treat: snow. For a full 15-minutes or so the ice skating Floridians got to experience the cold white stuff, many for the very first time. The center path also takes you to a small bizarre where you can buy cool gifts from local vendors and a large concession stand with your standard festival fare (hot dogs, nachos, popcorn, etc.).
On you’re way into and out of Winter Wonderland you can stop and take a sleigh ride through the ground’s Arboretum and nature trails, all beautifully decorated with twinkling lights. This very St. Augustine experience would be a great way to wrap up an already magical night.
It’s completely free to visit Winter Wonderland and enjoy many of the event’s activities. That said, the big ones, like ice skating and sleigh rides, are going to cost you. Skating is $8 per person and $2 for skate rental, while the sleigh rides are $10 for adults and $4 for kids. If you want to catch one of the performances of Gift of the Magi, that’s another $5 a seat. Add a few hot dogs and a couple of drinks and a family of four could easily spend a small fortune at Winter Wonderland, so be sure to budget accordingly beforehand.
Winter Wonderland will take over the St. Augustine Amphitheatre from now until January 6th. My family and I had a terrific time seeing all the sights and enjoying the evening’s activities. We will be coming back again this year and hope to make it one of our holiday stops for many years to come.
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