Anticipation building for revamped Winter Wonderfest

A Polar Express train ride through the Christmas Village, hayrides through the Light Spectacular, a Christmas tree farm and a second 5K are just some of the new attractions that will be part of the revamped Winter Wonderfest at Hudson Fields. 

The organizers of Winter Wonderfest are taking full advantage of their new, larger home at Hudson Fields in Milton by offering new features and attractions.

Not only will the entire event be held in one location for the first time, but it will add hay rides, a children’s train ride and a Christmas tree farm when it opens Saturday, Nov. 16.

Event Producer Peter Briccotto unveiled the revamped event Sept. 20 at a community kickoff event at Hudson Fields. He said the new location lifts some of the restrictions previously holding the event back at Cape Henlopen State Park and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry.

“We had some phenomenal partners, and we couldn’t be here without them,” he said. “But we reached a point where we had to go to private property so we could streamline the event, make it more cost effective and start making money for the community again.”

Visitors driving through the Light Spectacular, which features more than 800,000 lights, will enter at the north end of the property off Hudson Road. From there, they will follow a mile-long meandering path through dozens of displays before finishing at the south end. They can choose to exit via Eagle Crest Road or park and enter the Christmas Village. For guests only going to the Christmas Village, access will be off Eagle Crest Road.

Entering the Christmas Village, visitors will still be greeted by Schellville, a village featuring more than a dozen mini houses, stores and businesses. New this year will be the Schellville North Pole Express and its station. The trackless train will take children through a Polar Express-themed show.

Just like last year, Schellville will wrap around the Visit Delaware ice skating rink. Following last year’s event, organizers made a conscious decision to pull back on donations to invest in the longevity of the event. Rather than shell out a lot of money each year to rent and maintain an ice rink, organizers shifted funds to purchase an ice rink - a $450,000 expense.

Carnival rides and games will return and, Briccotto said, most of the activities in the Christmas Village will remain the same. The big change this year, he said, is that food and beverage will be provided by Highway One, which will donate the net proceeds back to Winter Wonderfest.

“Previously, we did not have access to those funds,” he said. “That was not something that was part of our partnership with the ferry. We’re ecstatic to have Highway One as such a strong supporter.”

The Christmas Village will also be the place for visitors to catch a hay ride through the Light Spectacular. Briccotto said hay rides have been a popular request through the first three years, and they are finally able to make it happen.

Another common request, he said, is for the event to offer Christmas tree sales. With an expanded venue, he said, they are able to offer that now too. Coastal Tree Farms will set up near the Christmas Village, offering fresh-cut trees and wreaths for Winter Wonderfest guests to purchase on their way out.

As in years past, Winter Wonderfest will kick off with the Dashing Through the Show 5K Saturday, Nov. 16, giving runners and walkers the first look at the new event. New this year will be the Last Dash 5K on New Year’s Eve, the final day of Winter Wonderfest.

As of Sept. 20, Briccotto said fundraising was 76 percent toward its goal. On Tuesday, Oct. 1, an online campaign called Light the Night will kick off, allowing individual community members to sponsor a single light bulb through donations of $10 to $50. Each donation will be highlighted on a special wall inside the Christmas Village.

The ultimate goal of the event is to donate proceeds back to the community. Through three years, more than $150,000 in grants has been given to local charities and groups.

To learn more about the event, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, go to www.wonderfestde.org.