Winter (fest) is coming

[chuck norris]

Seen today in Mason driving to Kings Island.

 

 

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[BoddaH1994]

That float was the “Grand Marshal” of Mason’s Heritage Day parade this weekend. I

[IndyGuy4KI]

I must say seeing that picture of that going down the street sure made me giggle a bit.

[Stoan]

I chuckled a lot seeing it at the Mason Heritage Festival Parade. Had about 8 or 10 of the parade dancers along with it. 

[MDMC01]

So was the cake float in the parade automated (did it move on its own) or did it have someone driving it (in front of the float)? I am curious as in the above picture, it looks like it's moving down the road by itself lol

[BoddaH1994]

It has a driver in the cake. 

[brenthodge]

12 hours ago, BoddaH1994 said:

It has a driver in the cake. 

The Street Party floats were built the “right” way for a theme park with hidden, or at least minimized drivers. I hate that all of Winterfest and most of Carnivale floats have the decorated golf carts with speakers and cords dangling. Second iteration of Carnivale they actually eliminated a couple of the hidden driver floats (airship and elephant). I think it’s way more expensive to do it that way though as the drive chassis is actually built into the float and you can't easily switch from one parade to the next without tearing it open to switch them out. 

[BoddaH1994]

1 hour ago, brenthodge said:

The Street Party floats were built the “right” way for a theme park with hidden, or at least minimized drivers. I hate that all of Winterfest and most of Carnivale floats have the decorated golf carts with speakers and cords dangling. Second iteration of Carnivale they actually eliminated a couple of the hidden driver floats (airship and elephant). I think it’s way more expensive to do it that way though as the drive chassis is actually built into the float and you can easily switch from one parade to the next without tearing it open to switch them out. 

It’s is more expensive, but there were also some  logistical reasons why some of the floats were built the way they were. Kern sold those chassis to Cedar Fair, as they were earmarked for a different project. They probably just got what they had. 

[MDMC01]

14 hours ago, BoddaH1994 said:

It has a driver in the cake. 

That’s pretty cool! 

[Timchat2]

https://www.kingsdominion.com/events/november-nights

Kings Dominion will be doing what appears to be preview nights of some WinterFest shows and activities before the official start of the event. It would be fun to have this at Kings Island.

[Winterfestguy]

What would be even better if KI opened for Winterfest earlier than 4pm on Saturdays.  People could enjoy ice skating, cookie decorating, and several rides before the evening crowds.  Years ago the original Winterfest always opened early afternoon.

[brenthodge]

2 hours ago, Winterfestguy said:

What would be even better if KI opened for Winterfest earlier than 4pm on Saturdays.  People could enjoy ice skating, cookie decorating, and several rides before the evening crowds.  Years ago the original Winterfest always opened early afternoon.

Totally agree. Even the decor is so well done and detailed you miss a lot of it only seeing it at night. Like the fact that Skyline trim matches skyline, subway matches, racer is two colors etc. most of that doesn’t even show at night. A 12 or 1 open would seem much better to get additional revenue. Even if shows didn’t change you could do those easier in the evening if you weren’t also trying to slot in rides. 

[Imperial79]

I can see them trying to open at 3 to see how it goes, hopefully they see these posts!  What time is the tree lighting ceremony again? 

[Taylor.B03]

Ladies and gents, candy canes have been spotted in the tower gardens!

[brenthodge]

2 hours ago, Taylor.B03 said:

Ladies and gents, candy canes have been spotted in the tower gardens!

These seem like a waste there. Wish they Woolf move that whole concept to the path to river town and use the footers from the first year to put them along the path with red/white lights strung overhead to make the candy cane lane. That area has had less and less each year as things have broken and not been replaced. 

[Snowball]

3 hours ago, brenthodge said:

These seem like a waste there. Wish they Woolf move that whole concept to the path to river town and use the footers from the first year to put them along the path with red/white lights strung overhead to make the candy cane lane. That area has had less and less each year as things have broken and not been replaced. 

Would be a pretty neat spot for them. Maybe if they moved there I wouldn’t have to fix as many light up reindeer every night! Those things trip GFCIs like crazy as soon as there’s any rain/snow because there’s SO MANY of them. 

[brenthodge]

9 hours ago, Snowball said:

Would be a pretty neat spot for them. Maybe if they moved there I wouldn’t have to fix as many light up reindeer every night! Those things trip GFCIs like crazy as soon as there’s any rain/snow because there’s SO MANY of them. 

That whole area needs to be rethought. The “Christmas clearance of random reindeer” needs to be better executed if that’s what they are going with (like use commercial grade LED deer instead of the random style, scale, color Home Depot ones all scattered around.) Below are some ideas using existing assets I came up with a couple of years ago. Some things they already implemented (you're welcome) but most of these are just refocussing the things they have in a way that creates stronger stories.

WINTERFEST ASSET REALLOCATION

ENTRY - No major changes

INTERNATIONAL STREET - No major changes -

Every “area” gets a large 20’ tree like the one in Coney decorated and lit to match the theme of the area -like a “signpost” 

ARCTIC WAY (Walkway to Action Zone in front of theatre)

CHARACTERS - Snowflake Fairy, Ice Queen and Prince

All of the snowfall lights/ blue lights from the walkway between Rivertown and Coney move here. Blue/ white uplighting, Lots of character interaction

Menorah and Dreidel stained glass decor

Main theatre show becomes “White Christmas Dreams” a show with live orchestra, vocalists and dancers that tells the story of a family that experiences the magic of Christmas one winter’s eve.

Arctic Way ties International Street into IceZone

ICE ZONE(Action Zone)

CHARACTER - Jack Frost

Ice Zone gets silver trusses with uplighting - maybe lots of LED snowflakes - modern and bright - all the spiral trees form Coney move here

Big signature tree is modern, silver, maybe only lights  

AREA - ENCHANTED ELF VILLAGE (Octoberfest lake)

CHARACTERS All elves

Brass band becomes Elf Brass band

Tinkers remains in Festhaus

All elf set pieces move to the areas around the lake with better lighting to really enhance

signature tree is lit red/green/gold with large traditional decor and toy ornaments 

FLORAL CLOCK - acts as major entrance feature for new Candy Cane Lane/Drum Line area

Gets great lighting package.

AREA - DRUM LINE

CHARACTERS Nutcracker Suite

Move trumpeters to the walkway leading to drummers with the MERRY CHRISTMAS sign and large gifts, toys etc

Four Drummer Drumming moves to stage on Skyline seating pavilion

Add uplighting to trees and possible 2-3 footers for lighting rigs to better light the soldier statues

Area brightly lit

Signature tree in red/blue/white

AREA - CANDY CANE LANE

CHARACTERS Candy Cane, Candy Dandy, Cotton Candy Fairy

Moves to the path to River Town past floral clock

Add large LED tree in red/white with light show  on the old base where tree was WF’17

Add paved paths in this area (in the grass) to tree and to paved area for candy castle - these could be seating areas and landscaping during normal season and paths through cemetery for Haunt

Footings from Winterfest Way WF’17 hold candy cane scaffolding with red/white overhead string lights

Line main path and new paths with candy cane markers

Kona Ice drink place becomes hot chocolate/candy “gingerbread House” food location

TUNNEL OF LIGHTS - From where path straightens out leads into…

AREA - HOMESPUN HOLIDAYS (Rivertown)

Move all of the crafter booths to this area to play up the “homespun” theme. Some along the path, some set up like a little village in The Beast plaza

signature tree with lanterns, white lights, homespun ornaments in the middle of crafters village (beast plaza) 

Improve look of crafter barns to make look like different style buildings in Rivertown

More rustic decor

Remainder of Rivertown as previous years

AREA - Coca-Cola POLAR BEAR WAY (Path along former Vortex site)

Red and white string lights overhead

Coca-Cola billboards line the path (like a road to Tinsel Town)

Plaza at Backlot becomes the Polar Bear Dance Party

Basketball 3 point game gets Coca-Cola Holiday enhancement-maybe “ornament toss” 

Transition area in to Tinsel Town brighter and bolder

AREA - TINSEL TOWN (End of Coney Mall)

No major changes - giant tinsel trees are signature tree  better clustering of trim elements 

AREA - CONEY CARNIVAL CHRISTMAS (Coney Mall)

No major changes - add overhead color change LED lights from HAUNT (did this 2020) 

Make even gaudier, bolder, brighter - move the giant light sculptures from the path to River Town here

More Silver Tinsel - almost an extension of Tinsel Town

AREA - CHARLIE BROWN’S CHRISTMASTOWN (Planet Snoopy)

Move the live performance aspect out of the petting zoo - Keep “Sounds of the Nativity” with lighting and music, but maybe Peanuts Narration and songs from the Christmas special instead.

“What the Dickens” moves out to new area (keeps the indoor area for inclement weather)

International Showplace adds better roof - possible temporary back and sides and heaters “Charlie Browns Christmas Spectacular” moves here with minor modifications. The two side stages of this performance space already work for this show. This brings all of thePeanuts entertainment to one area to create stronger destination

AREA - DICKENS SQUARE (where 4 drummer drumming was)

CHARACTERS Scrooge, Marley, Ghosts

Makes sense tying into International Street

Use Scrooge’s house set from 05 WF as background for “What The Dickens” -  Can move to Peanuts Showcase during inclement weather

Use some graveyard items to make Scrooges cemetary

Add some “Old England” set pieces

Bring this “Christmas Carol” theme to Boo Blasters

AREA - OH HOLY NIGHT (Tower Gardens)

Live performers from “Sounds of Nativity” move here - create stage area where Ginger Bread castle went when this was Candy Cane Lane

Use existing footers to add light trusses to provide projected “light through stained glass windows”

All stained glass nativity pieces move here - maybe not all on one big area, but in smaller clusters that are dim, but light up brighter when songs related to those characters are sung (shepherds, angels, wisemen etc)

Twinkling lights in the trees for “stars” - Large star above (Star in the East)

Benches provide seating for contemplation