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Christmas in Candyland will be back in full force this year and will include New Year’s Eve fireworks, new Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura Wells told the Andalusia City Council Tuesday night.

Wells presented a budget for the event, which is jointly sponsored by the Andalusia Area Chamber and the City of Andalusia. The council unanimously approved.

Wells said that the annual holiday event was modified last year to allow precautions for the pandemic. This year, Christmas in Candyland will again include train rides, the Polar Bear Slide, and winter skating.

“All of our attractions will be back open,” she said.

Local bands and the Andalusia Ballet will perform on a brand new event stage, she said, adding that other favorites like “Cocoa with Characters,” photographs with “Elsa” in her enchanted garden, and Santa appearances also are planned.

The flower display in Elsa’s setting is being expanded, Wells said.

And this year, Christmas in Candyland will close with New Year’s Eve fireworks.

“We were thinking about how fireworks close the night at Disney World,” Wells said. “We thought it would be great to do that here.”

Wells said a Candyland app developed several years ago is being redesigned as a scavenger hunt in hopes of appealing to young teens who can use their phones for the search.

The proposed budget is $102,326, which includes the expansion of lights in the downtown area and the enchanted garden lights. A portion of that budget will be covered by sponsorships sold by the Chamber, Wells said.

The annual event, which began in 2014, drew 69,852 visits in 2020, despite having fewer attractions because of pandemic precautions.

Christmas in Candyland will open on Friday, Dec. 3. A complete schedule is available at christmasincandyland.com.

In other business, the council:

• Agreed to pursue an ATRIP II grant that, if received, would change traffic patterns on East Three Notch Street.
• Agreed to seek bids to replace the oldest vehicles in the Andalusia Police Department’s fleet.
• Approved the purchase of a new tractor with attachments for right-of-way maintenance.
• Approved a resolution determining costs of abatements at 605 East Three Notch Street; 101 Pecan Street; and 612 South Three Notch Street.
• Approved abatements of properties at 404 Third Street; 629 West Watson St.; 204 Chickasaw St.; 315 King St.; 222 Knox St.; and 1105 Lenora Lane.