Mother Nature might not be able to provide Central Texas with a white Christmas, but the 10th annual Waco Wonderland event will give Waco area residents the chance to experience a snowy holiday season when they visit Heritage Square Dec. 2 - 4.
The snow at this event comes in the form of two snow tubing hills—one for older children and adults and one for toddlers. But the fun doesn’t stop there.
“[Waco Wonderland] features all sorts of different activities,” said Manager of Community Engagement Megan Davis. “We have live music, fireworks, a tree lighting ceremony, a market with more than 30 vendors, holiday crafts, and local food trucks.”
The City of Waco, who hosts the event, is also bringing back live reindeer and expanding the Santa House where children can tell the big guy what they want for Christmas and complete a holiday craft.
“We always want to keep the event fresh and bring in features that families can look forward to,” Davis said. “But we also want to make sure that we keep those traditional Waco Wonderland pieces for those who come back year-after-year.”
The best part of the event is that it is FREE to attend. There is a fee to ride the Ferris Wheel, train, and snow hills, but parents can purchase a wristband for just $10 that covers rides for the whole night.
“Waco Wonderland is great for families because it is affordable,” she said. “And because it’s located downtown, families can come and enjoy the festivities and then venture out to local downtown merchants and businesses to do a little Christmas shopping.”
Davis said the event has become a focal piece for holiday traditions downtown and brings in more than 25,000 visitors each year.
The event kicks off at 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, and a tree lighting ceremony and fireworks show will take place at 7 p.m. The fun continues Saturday morning at 10 a.m. with a downtown parade, and then the event continues until 10 p.m. that evening. Waco Wonderland is open again Sunday, Dec. 4, from noon to 6 p.m.
For the most up to date information about Waco Wonderland and available attractions, visit the event’s website at www.wacowonderland.com or their social media pages @wacowonderland on Facebook and @wacoparksandrec on Instagram.
Jessa is the Editor-in-Chief of Hooray for Family and the mom of three energetic children. She has a BA in Mass Communication/Journalism from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and is a long-time resident of Central Texas. When she isn't writing and editing, she enjoys playing board games with her kids, teaching Sunday school and channeling her creativity into craft projects.
