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WINTERFEST 2022
Kicking off the Christmas Season
by Darien Hardy
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE TRADITION OF WINTERFEST STARTED WITH A SINGLE HISTORIC
TROLLEY TOUR? After years of new ideas and exciting developments, downtown Pensacola's Winterfest has grown into a must-see family event. It’s never too early to get into the holiday spirit, and this year, Winterfest is kicking off the festivities earlier than ever before. This year’s event will run November 18 through December 24 and feature updated tours, returning event favorites and more fun activities. The Winterfest festivities all take place at 223 South Palafox Place in downtown Pensacola. This year’s Winterfest festivities will kick off with the Christmas Jubilee and the Elf Parade, which will be returning for the first time since before the pandemic. Each weekend throughout November and December, the streets of downtown Pensacola will come alive, and the entrance of the downtown courthouse will transform into the magical Plaza Wonderland, providing locals and visitors alike the opportunity to experience the magic of the season. The Elf Parade is a children’s focused, non-commercial event where kids are invited to dress up in costumes and participate in contests designed for their decorated wagons and strollers. Parents can also participate in an ugly sweater contest, to be judged by Dee Dee Davis, who serves as the Christmas Fashion Institute President. The parade will start at the Escambia County Courthouse and span for a few blocks to the plaza behind the Pensacola history museum where the Christmas Jubilee will be waiting. “It’s all free at the Christmas Jubilee. It’s just our way of saying thank you to the people that came out and want to go to Winterfest,” Winterfest Board President Denise Daughtry said. This year, the Winterfest event and kick off will be scheduled differently. Typically held in the late afternoon, the popular Elf Parade will start earlier in the day to allow for a special jubilee celebration immediately following the parade. For about two hours after the parade, guests can hang out at the jubilee where they will have opportunities to win a variety of exciting prizes and visit the Christmas Market. Josh Davidson, Winterfest Treasurer, said this new schedule will be more helpful to parents with young children and will also allow for more time for those without tour tickets to hang out a little longer and enjoy some of the fun festivities that Winterfest has to offer. The three themed trolley performance tours and other events will begin earlier this year, as well. On November 25, the parade lineup and contests will begin at 12:30 pm, with a special kickoff party and market activities that will begin at 2 pm. Winterfest performances will be held on Friday nights at 5 pm and on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:30 pm, with performances running every 15 minutes up until 8 pm. In addition to earlier start times and a host of additional activities to enjoy prior to this year’s tours, Winterfest guests can look forward to even more special engagements during the performance tours, special effects, new lighting and all-new costumes.
Santa Claus is coming to town and will be available for pictures after each trolley tour. Professional photos will be available for purchase and guests are welcome to bring their personal cameras to take pictures or video during their visit. Children can also bring their PENSACOLA MAGAZINE | 17Christmas letters to give to the jolly man himself, or they can drop them off in mailboxes that will be stationed throughout the event space
Mr. Grinch sure is a mean one, but Santa’s favorite nemesis is begrudgingly allowing Winterfest guests to invade his space for a photo or two. Guests will meet the Grinch at his throne behind Santa’s sleigh. Unlike Santa, he likes to ask children what they don’t want for Christmas. Guests should take caution, as Mr. Grinch has some tricks up his sleeve and has a special lever that can launch guests out of their seats.
Grow your heart at Christmas on a wacky adventure on the stolen trolley. Mr. Grinch used all of the trash from Mt. Crumpit to craft the best trolley at Winterfest. Throughout the tour, guests will get to see more of Dr. Suess’s beloved characters, such as Cindy Lou Who, The Mayor of Whoville, The Cat in the Hat and many more. As everyone knows, an evening in Whoville is the best way to get in the Christmas spirit. The Who’s aren’t sure how well this trip will work, but don’t worry, the Whoville Fire Department is ready with an emergency exit slide just in case. Guests can win the Grinch Award by wearing their best "Who" costume. The most Seusian-looking Who on each tour will win their entire party a train ticket, so come dressed to impress.
Join the Conductor for a magical journey through a wormhole in a life-size steam engine, the Polar Express. Share in the adventure as the Conductor recounts the story of the boy who received the first gift of Christmas: a bell from Santa’s sleigh. Onboard the Polar Express Tour, guests will see tap dancing hot chocolate servers and snowy landscapes. Rekindle the wonder of the beloved storybook, along with the belief in the magic of Christmas. All passengers will receive a mini cup of hot chocolate. Come dressed in pajamas, if you’d like. The best pajama set will win a ticket to ride the train. Remember to dress warm and cozy for this open-air trolley ride.
This year, Scrooge is getting his very own trolley. Take part in some ghostly fun with the classic tale: A Christmas Carol. Beginning at the steps of the old courthouse for a free to the public pre-show, guests will encounter Ebenezer Scrooge’s long-deceased partner Jacob Marley. Marley wears many chains around him with each link representing a selfish misdeed from his life. Marley must make Scrooge change his ways before it’s too late and Scrooge faces the same fate as Marley. Soon after, guests will meet the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future as they show Scrooge how he became so callous toward others, what the true meaning of Christmas is and that fortune isn’t as important as he thought.
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Encounter the Ghost of Christmas Future at the Winterfest event and get a photo taken with your own tombstone including a personalized epitaph. There will be 12 styles of epitaphs for you to choose from.
For tour tickets and complete details on this year’s Winterfest events, visit pensacolawinterfest.org.
