LONGWOOD, Fla. – Wekiva Island has transformed into a Winter Wonderland but in its eighth year, there are some new additions.
The festive event will run through Christmas Day, bringing sparkling holiday décor, thousands of twinkling lights, “snow” flurries and a calendar packed with events.
New this year is Santa’s Workshop, which will take up residence in the Island’s upstairs art gallery. The space will be fully decorated and buzzing with holiday fun, including the chance to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, see Santa’s office and explore Mrs. Claus’ bakery.
The event will also be bringing back holiday favorites, including a 24-foot-tall Christmas tree that will serve as the centerpiece to the Christmas Tree Forest. There will also be daily and nightly “snow” flurries to truly set the mood. Wekiva Island also offers a variety of outdoor activities like kayaking, canoeing, beach volleyball and more.
“We are a small family-owned business and community is very important to us, so we wanted to offer something to the Orlando area that any family can afford and to celebrate Christmas here,” said Carrie Vanderhoef, Wekiva Island manager. “Now in our eighth year, we’ve seen many families come to this event year after year as their kids grow up. We’re very proud to be part of Central Florida’s holiday traditions, and we’re so excited to share all the fun we have planned for Santa’s Workshop this year.”
Other events include:
- VIP Party—Celebrate the season in style with the holiday party of the year. This ticket-holder-only event offers the chance to eat, drink and be merry all evening. 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Dec. 16. $70 for single tickets, $120 for couples.
- Visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus—The head elf himself will be checking in at his workshop every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23.
- Visit from The Grinch—A favorite event every year at Wekiva Island, The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who and the Whoville Elves will be stopping by to visit with fans. 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., Dec. 17.
- Outdoor holiday movies—Snuggle up and enjoy a holiday favorite, complete with hot cocoa and popcorn for purchase. 7 p.m., Dec. 17.
- Stories with Mrs. Claus—Kids can savor a cookie and some hot cocoa while Mrs. Claus puts everyone in the holiday spirit with fun stories. 6 p.m., Dec. 13 and Dec. 20. $12/child.
In addition to the fun, Wekiva Island took part in the spirit of giving with a toy drive for Kids House of Seminole, collecting new, unwrapped toys that were delivered to Kids House to be given to kids in Seminole County.
Wekiva Island will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Eve and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Christmas Day.
Winter Wonderland is open to the public. Admission is $5 on Saturday and Sunday, which includes visits with Santa, face painting and glitter tattoo artists. Other events might require separate tickets and advanced registration.
To see the entire schedule and learn more, visit wekivaisland.com.
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