Polar bear maze, 4 cottages added to venue

Candyland 2018 will feature four new playhouses, an Artic Trek maze and an exciting new app that will be introduced in November.

“We are excited about the new playhouses,” Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy said. “Wiregrass Federal Credit Union, Andalusia Animal Clinic, Andalusia Marine, and Samurai Japanese Steak House are all doing houses this year.”

Each business will design theme relevant to their businesses. For instance, Samurai is building a Japanese tea house with a hibachi in the center.

The other exciting new addition, the maze, will challenge participants to unite a lost baby polar bear with its mama.

Details of the app will not be released until it is available for a free download in November, Duffy said, adding that it was developed just for Andalusia, and adds to the magic of Candyland.

But all of that Candyland magic comes with a price tag, and Duffy and Assistant Chamber Director Maggie Jones are busy putting together sponsorships that fund all of the “extras” that make Candyland so special.

“This is a joint project of the Chamber and the City of Andalusia,” Duffy said. “The city funds a large part of this, but our sponsorships allow us to add extra things.”

Sponsorship levels are available from $150 for a snowflake sign; $150 for a tree on the holiday trail; $350 to sponsor the holiday concert stage; $500 for a street pole banner; $500 for cocoa and characters; or $1,000 to sponsor the new app.

Candyland will be open from Dec. 1-31. Hours are by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; from 9 a.m. until noon on Wednesdays; from 5 until 9 p.m. on Fridays; 1 until 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 until 5 p.m. on Sundays.

For additional information, contact Duffy at 334.222.2030.