Schellville organizers change ticket policy
Due to overwhelming attendance, organizers of Schellville are making changes to their ticketing and reservation policies. On Nov. 27 alone, more than 10,000 people visited the 6-acre Christmas village.
“We know lines were long, and in an effort to spread our mission of happiness and ensure our guests have a great experience, we are making a few changes to the event,” said Alyssa Titus, Schell Brothers marketing director.
She said free, online advance reservations are highly recommended. “If you do not have a reservation, we cannot guarantee you access to the event. We will do our best to allow as many people as safely possible to enjoy Schellville, but be prepared to wait in lines,” she said.
Online reservations are now being accepted for time blocks from 5 to 7 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m. each evening the event is open.
Schellville's Enchanted Winter Celebration, located behind Tanger Outlets Seaside along Holland Glade Road near Rehoboth Beach, shifted operations this season from its former Winter Wonderfest location.
Titus said, in addition, the village will be open for senior citizens and families with young children from 2 to 4 p.m. on event days. She said many amenities, including visits with Santa Claus, train rides, vendors’ shacks and the hospitality tent, will not be open then. Early guests will be asked to exit Schellville no later than 4:30 p.m., she said.
Reservations can be made at tinyurl.com/2p92h247.
A Christmas festival
The attraction, sponsored by builder/developer Schell Brothers, features a 100-by-200-foot roller-skating rink with a loop where skaters can roll under a tunnel of lights, and an expanded cobblestone Enchanted Christmas Village with 18 miniature houses, including a new pet hospital and airplane hangar. Santa and Mrs. Claus are on hand each night of the festival for visits by children.
Schellville has an expanded outdoor lounge area with fire pits, 16 snow machines providing snow for 15 minutes every hour, and two trains passing through a tunnel of lights with views of holiday characters, Christmas decorations and trees. Other features include an artisans’ market, food trucks, a hospitality tent, live music, a snow zone for safe snowball fights, a Christmas tree maze and a beer garden.
The festival will be open from 5 to 9 p.m., Thursday to Sunday, and 5 to 9 p.m. daily the week of Dec. 26-31. It will be closed Dec. 24 and 25.
For more information on Schellville, go to schellbrothers.com.
