Winter Park to host first Snow in the Park holiday event

Let’s face it: It’s not easy getting into the Christmas spirit when it’s another sunny day in Florida.  

But this year, Winter Park families won’t have to be dreaming of a white Christmas. It will be waiting for them in the Central Park West Meadow. 

On Dec. 14 and 15, the city of Winter Park will host its inaugural Snow in the Park celebration — a chillier, more festive successor to the longstanding Winter Park ice-skating rink event. 

“We decided we wanted to try something that was a lot cooler,” said Kyle Dudgeon, assistant division director of Economic Development. “When the ice rink started, it was in the middle of the economic depression, so it was us wondering, ‘What can we do in the city to drive foot traffic and add value to get people downtown?’ That event was really successful, and after we got out of the recession and started having more and more special events, it got to the point where the goal of the ice rink had reached its limit.” 

The event, funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency and sponsored by Florida Hospital, will invite kids of all ages to hit the West Meadow section of Central Park for a weekend of snowball fights, photos with Santa Claus and other adventures. 

The standout feature in this year’s event is all the snow and ice. Not only will Snow in the Park have 300 tons of snow pumped into the West Meadow, but also there will be a pair of 12-foot-tall ice slides full of snow and ice for kids to tube down. The entire event will have snow flurries falling from the sky to give Winter Park as close to a northern winter experience as possible. 

“The ice slide is definitely No. 1, and kids will actually be able to play with real snow,” Recreation & Family Services Manager Cathleen Daus said. “Which is probably something that lots of them haven’t seen … to be able to just walk downtown and be able to play with the snow for a weekend. ”

Other features include a trackless miniature train that will transport kids to the different stations across the park where they can make arts and crafts, get airbrushed tattoos and even spend time with Santa Claus himself. They’ll be working with the Christmas elves — Parks and Recreation staffers who will commit to the bit by dressing like Santa’s helpers. 

Work on Snow in the Park began in August, with staff drawing up plans and recruiting vendors. 

Snow in the Park

WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15

WHERE: West Meadow Central Park, 150 W. Morse Blvd., Winter Park

COST: Free

INFORMATION: (407) 599-3342

WEBSITE: cityofwinterpark.org/event/snow-in-the-park/2018-12-14

FEATURES

Ice Slides

Build-A-Snowman contest

Miniature train rides

Snow flurries

S’mores and hot chocolate

Photos with Santa Claus

Toymakers craft workshop

Airbrush tattoos

Music and carolers