Ribbon cutting today, venues open Saturday

The ribbon is set to be cut today (Friday), officially opening Christmas in Candyland for 2018.

Country Living and Southbound magazines have named Christmas in Candyland as a top holiday attraction, and the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Andalusia have added new features to make it even more fun for locals and visitors this year.

Candyland began with imaginative play cottages for children coupled with snow machines on the Square. It has grown every year with additional cottages, a train ride, snow tubing, ice skating, and light shows.

This year, an Arctic Trek, Polar Bear Maze  has been added adjacent to the snow slide at Springdale. Youngsters will follow the journey of a lost polar bear cub through a large inflatable maze.

The Candyland Express is getting a newer, bigger engine, and a new Christmas in Candyland App helps visitors capture the magic of Christmas in Candyland, and take it home with them.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy said the augmented reality app is similar to the popular Pokemon Go.

Once the free app is downloaded (In a test, it took less than two minutes to download and install), uses have the option of adding snowfall to photos and videos.

While visiting Candyland, users will search for 12 enchanted Candyland characters throughout the venue. By positioning a device in their direction, the characters come to life. The characters can be scaled to “fit” appropriately in your photo or video.

In addition, Duffy said, souvenir booklets of enchanted character ornaments will available so that youngsters can take the magic of Candyland home with them.

Among the enchanted characters are a polar bear, train, ballerina, nutcracker and elf.

There are no admission charges to any Candyland venue. Skate rentals are $5/hr. Snow tubing rentals are $5/5 slides.  Train rides, maze runs, cottage play and all snow shows and other events are completely free. 

Candyland is open Dec. 1-31.

Candyland on the Court Square hours follow.

Candyland Cottage Open Play Schedule:

Wednesdays – 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Fridays – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Saturdays – 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sundays – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Light Show

Fridays, Saturdays – 6 p.m.

Santa on the Square

Saturdays – 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Springdale on Ice

Winter Skating Rink, Snow Tubing Hill, Candyland Cottage Open Play, Arctic Maze and Holiday Train Schedule

Thursdays (Dec. 6, 13, 20) – 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Fridays – 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Saturdays -1 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Sundays – 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Concerts and Carols

Fridays – 6 p.m.