By: Alan Aptheker
No Winter Wonderland in Jacksonville? Bah . . . Humbug
You have several options. One could be the 5th annual Winter Wonderland ice skating and snow spectacular at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre 1340 A1A South, Nov. 26 through Jan. 1. It features North Florida’s first outdoor skating rink and various winter attractions including a Blizzard Bounce House and obstacle course, Elf Village, a S’mores pit, visits with Santa, the Frost Kingdom Express Train, reindeer games, sleigh rides and other winter-themed fun. Hours are 5 to 10 pm Monday through Friday, and 2 pm to 10 pm Saturday and Sunday, beginning Nov. 26. (School holiday hours, Dec. 17 through Dec. 30 are 2 pm to 10 pm). Continued after the break.
Or, you could head over to to Adventure Landing’s WinterFEST. The theme park on Beach Boulevard is transforming its Shipwreck Island Water park into an alpine snow village with a skating rink, a 130-foot ice slide, nightly snowfall, Santa’s workshop and even a teddy bear-making factory.
At the WinterFEST you can enjoy a lodge full of winter treats and sweets that include hot soup, hot chocolate and gourmet coffees. The WinterFEST will run through January 2, 2012.
It’s not just fun. It’s for a great cause. A portion of the proceeds from WinterFEST will go to Jacksonville’s Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Foundation. The Foundation funds programs to honor law enforcement officers and help families of officers killed in the line of duty.
Option three: put on your camo-snuggie and watch the newcasts from Newark or Buffalo.
