Hometown Madison - November & December 2017

55 Days of Unforgettable Memories
Ken Sandridge
Holiday memory-making in Mississippi
usually doesn’t include ice - unless, of
course, it’s the ice in a glass of sweet tea.
However, thanks to the vision of local U.S.
96.3 radio celebrity and Big South Events
partner, Scott Steele, Central Mississippi
families will enjoy over 55 days of
unforgettable memories on ice beginning
November 12 during Steele’s event titled,
Christmas Wonderland.
Describing the nearly two-month
long event as an ice skating, ice sliding
extravaganza, Steele and his partners
are ensuring skating and sliding fun -
rain or shine - by holding the event in a
giant 30,000 square foot tent filled with
thousands of Christmas lights and
decorations in the parking lot of
Mississippi Braves stadium in Pearl.
“Actually, the great memories my
children and I had at the ice rink held in
Madison a few years back,” Steele said,
“were the inspiration for Christmas
Wonderland.” “As my partners and I began
developing the Christmas Wonderland
concept, we knew we had to find a way
to keep Mother Nature from shutting
down the fun,” Steele said in referring to the
more than 20 days of rain that prevented
skating at the Madison event in 2013.
“So, holding Christmas Wonderland in
a massive tent was our only option,”
he added. “If not for the underwriting
commitments of our title sponsor, Merit
Health, as well as other generous
supporters like Outlets of Mississippi,
BankPlus, and Coca-Cola,” Steele explained,
“there would have been no way to bring
an event of this magnitude to the Metro
Jackson area.” Steele also praised Pearl
Mayor Jake Windham and the businesses
and organizations in the area for their
support of the project - including the host
venue Mississippi Braves, Bass Pro Shop,
Holiday Inn, and Cavender’s.
One of the nation’s most experienced
providers of portable ice rink venues,
internationally acclaimed Magic Ice USA,
was tapped to develop and install the
Christmas Wonderland ice rink and ice
slide. In addition to a nearly 8,000 square
foot ice rink, Christmas Wonderland will
feature a double ice slide appropriately
titled, The Arctic Blast, where two sliders
climb stairs to the top of a 20-foot high
ice-tower before zooming down a 120-foot
long run of ice to the bottom of the run.
As a bonus for younger children who
may find it slightly challenging to navigate
the ice rink and slide, Steele and partners
also designed a kid-friendly area with an
assortment of inflatables that will include
a huge 22-foot high triple slide that gives
even the youngest event-goers thrills
galore.
“Speaking of kids,” Steele continued,
“we have a ton of things planned to make
the event especially exciting for them
during the Christmas season. For instance,
moms and dads can have their children
be a part of several Breakfast with Santa
dates where the kids will actually have
breakfast and visit with St. Nick himself -
along with filling out their wish-list and
dropping it in his big red bag!”
“Birthday parties at Christmas Wonderland
are another opportunity,” he added.
We have already booked a ton of
children’s birthday parties, which include
skating, sliding and bouncing in the
inflatables area!”
“And not to be outdone by things for
the kiddos,” he remarked, “Christmas
Wonderland makes the perfect venue for
Christmas gatherings of all kinds - including
company, church, and other types of group
and organizational gatherings!”
Throughout the nearly eight-week long
event, there will be a variety of local and
regional concerts and entertainment
appearing daily on the BankPlus Stage -
ranging from church and school choirs to
professional entertainers.
“Almost everyone has a favorite
Christmas memory,” Steele added. “This
year, we’re confident Christmas Wonderland
will become that magical place where
friends and families celebrate the season
and make memories that last a lifetime.”
Christmas Wonderland will operate
daily beginning November 12 thru January
6, 10am - 11pm Monday thru Thursday,
and 12 noon - 11pm Friday thru Sunday.
For more information call 601-212-8810,
email info@bigsouthevents.net, or visit
www.christmaswonderland.ms or
FaceBook.com/ChristmasWonderlandMS
Hometown madison • 71