Snow Central Lets It Snow In Winter Haven

by James Coulter

Winter Haven may have “winter” in its name, but during the actual winter, it rarely gets cold enough for the city to become a Winter Wonderland. However, once a year in December, the city imports ice to give local children the opportunity to frolic and play the Eskimo way as they enjoy a Winter Wonderland in Winter Haven.

Once again, the City of Winter Haven allowed children and their families this rare opportunity last Friday during its annual Snow Central at the Chain O’ Lakes Complex.

For the low price of $1 to $2 for admission, attendees could enjoy the white stuff by either frolicking within it and tossing it around during a snowball fight, or sliding down it on an ice slide with an inner tube toboggan.

Whether they were playing within the snow in the indoor snow arena or sliding down it on an ice slide, young children were able to celebrate Christmas early by having white snowy fun that only children up North get to enjoy.

Ryon Minter, a local father of two, brought his daughter and son out to the event—or rather, “they” brought him out—for an evening of snowy fun. None of them have been up North, so this was their first time being able to play with snow, he said.

“My kids have never seen the snow, so this is the closest we are getting for a while,” he said. “They love the snowballs for sure. They could not wait to throw the snowballs. They were trying to hit me most of the time. We would do again, for sure…It was fun. I liked it. We enjoyed it.”

The “snow” is created from ice imported from the Alpine Ice Company. The ice is brought early in the morning, shaved, and fluffed into a white pile within the makeshift indoor area.

During the event, after each set of attendees are permitted to play within it for five to ten minutes at a time, the snow is “fluffed” by staff members to ensure that the snow is soft and fluffy for each and every group of children, explained Marissa Barnes, Special Events Marketing Coordinator.

This is the first time Barnes has hosted the event since stepping forward as the city’s new Special Event Marketing Coordinator. The event itself has always been hosted every year in December; however, due to weather problems last year, that year’s event was postponed until January.

Aside from the snow, the event also offered several food trucks, activities such as cookie decorating provided by local vendors, and, of course, a meet and greet with Jolly Old Saint Nick himself.

The annual event gives locals the opportunity to enjoy a “White Christmas” that other people up North have the privilege of enjoying. It is an annual tradition that is expected to remain annual for many Christmases to come, Barnes said.

“For Florida natives such as ourselves, seeing snow is something you do not do often, and it is such a delight that the city of Winter Haven allows experience not only for adults like me who do not travel in the winter for those elements, but it is also exciting for the little kids,” she said. “Everybody watches movies and reads books, and wants to experience a white Christmas…Each child gets to see what it is like to play in the snow, to slide down a snow sleigh, it is something you really miss out on if you are a Floridian.”

Chain Of Lakes Lights Up With Winter Haven Boat Parade

by James Coulter

Every town has its own Christmas parade. But not every town has their parade on the water. As Winter Haven resides within the Chain of Lakes, it only makes sense that the City of Lakes hosts its annual Christmas parade on the water.

Several dozen boats decked themselves with Christmas lights and other decorations and took to the waters within the Chain of Lakes to participate within the 32nd Annual Winter Haven Chain of Lakes Boat Parade.

Hosted by Chain Life Winter Haven, the annual parade had participating boats gather on Lake May around dusk before setting off to Lake Howard, then back to Lake May, and then onto Lake Shipp for a round trip.

As the boats passed through each lake, attendees watching the parade could observe from the shore. Some stood upon the sandy banks, while others sat in lawn chairs or upon picnic blankets on the grass.

The parade passed by several lakeside eateries and bars, including Tanner’s Lakeside, Old Man Franks, Harborside Restaurant, and Caribbean Bay. Several patrons could see the parade while sitting and eating on the waterside patios. Many of these eateries even included extra amenities for the parade festivities including live musical entertainment and dinner specials.

Chain Life Winter Haven has been hosting the holiday tradition for the past several years. The event planning business hosts events such as this, along with the Floatilla, as it is, according to its website, “dedicated to promoting, revitalizing and enhancing public access to and use of the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes.”

Each of the participating boats and their decorations were judged by judges watching the parade from Caribbean Bay and Old Man Franks. The winning boats, according to the Chain Life Facebook page, were as follows:

2nd Place: “Green Dragon”

1st Place: “Patriotic Palm Tree”

The owners of these winning boats are advised to contact Chain Life Winter Haven to receive their prizes. Please contact them at their Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ChainLifeWinterHaven/