[Jonathan]

If it is an open event then I'm sure they will pass along the information when it gets closer to the date. I wouldn't be surprised if it is by invitation only, though.

[CoasterChris]

It's not open to the public, just press and employees.

I'll post a report when i get back from the confrence.

[MarkD]

I kinda hope they only talk about "Winterfest" and save all the other news for C3.

[RollerBee]

Hey, doesn't Carowinds Zone and Connection count as press, I mean we do get people to the park, and we do advertise for the park. It ain't like I am pay to it neither.

[CoasterChris]

No that does not count as press.

[montumax]

Why don't we let the park decide who they want to invite?

In this day and age, the internet does have a lot of influence! What better way for some of the parks to get a lot of publicity and use the coaster based websites (a good quality one at that) for publicity. I think there will be a few webmasters there on Monday. So, its just not the media anymore.

[coasterbruh]

How about future webmasters....

[Dukeis#1]

Swampfox displays his psychic abilities...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
OBSERVER EXCLUSIVE / JEFF ELDER

Hot theme park launching giant cold-weather attraction

Carowinds' WinterFest will offer lights, ice rink, snow

JEFF ELDER

Staff Writer

On these midsummer days, when the sun glares down and your shirt feels like it was tarred to your back, you might find yourself wishing for a little bit of wintertime.

Boys and girls, here it is.

Paramount's Carowinds is announcing WinterFest, a new multimillion-dollar attraction, at a news conference this morning at the park.

The winter festival, which the park bills as "the largest Christmastime event in the Carolinas," premieres Nov. 25 and will last for 23 nights.

Features include:

• More than a million twinkling lights.

• The park's 320-foot Carolina Skytower transformed into what the park bills as one of the tallest Christmas trees in the world. It will be visible for miles.

• A decorated 65-foot fir tree hollowed out so people can stroll through the middle.

• Live musical performances portraying Santa's workshop.

• A parade of floats depicting classic Christmas scenes.

• An outdoor ice rink of about 2,500 square feet, with rental skates and cocoa served nearby.

• Turkey and ham dinners.

• Snow (made by a machine) falling from the sky.

• And, of course, Santa. The park assures parents St. Nick will be there to hear everyone's holiday wishes.

Scott Rutherford, a staff writer for Amusement Today, an industry magazine based in Arlington, Texas, says WinterFest is a big deal.

"I think this thing will be huge," says Rutherford, who lives in Charlotte and is author of the book "The American Roller Coaster."

"Other than the local malls and the McAdenville lights, there's not a whole lot to do outdoors on chilly evenings between Thanksgiving and Christmas."

The Gaston County mill town of McAdenville, with as many as 400,000 lights strung along its streets, has been the area's biggest light display, drawing an estimated 600,000 people last year.

Rutherford pointed out that Dollywood, the bodacious theme park in Tennessee, has enjoyed great success with a winter festival.

And Scarowinds, the Halloween festival at Carowinds, has drawn increased visitors each year since it opened in 2000. (The park says it has nearly doubled the first year's attendance.)

Rutherford guessed WinterFest will draw families, grandparents and grandkids, young couples who haven't yet settled into holiday traditions, and groups just looking to enjoy a holiday season out.

The park says WinterFest celebrates the holidays and wintertime, but not specifically Christianity in any religious way. There will be small displays honoring Kwanzaa and the religious aspects of Christmas and Hanukkah.

Why announce WinterFest now? Check your calendar: It's exactly five months until Christmas. (Carowinds also hoped the early announcement would encourage people to make it part of their holiday plans.)

In addition to WinterFest, some children's rides and attractions will be open each night.

Carowinds held a WinterFest once before, in 1983. But the park says this will be on a much larger scale. The Skytower was decorated as a Christmas tree from 1983 until 2002, when the Borg roller coaster changed the park's layout. Now the Skytower will be decorated in a much grander way, the park says.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled scorching summer day.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From <a href='http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/news/12215254.htm' target='_blank'>Charlotte Observer.com</a>

[MarkD]

This is a definant must see this year.

from the Observer web site...

WinterFest Details

• Tickets purchased on the Web three or more days in advance are $20 per person; purchased on the Web less than three days, $23; at the gate, $25. Food is extra.

• WinterFest will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, Nov. 25 to Dec. 11, and every night Dec. 16-23 and 26-31. Carowinds will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

[coasterbruh]

So I guess we, as in season pass holders, have to pay for it...?

[Jonathan]

<a href='http://www.carowinds.com/winterfest/index.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www.carowinds.com/winterfest/index.cfm</a>

[CoasterChris]

WinterFest: Home for the Holidays


For 23 magical nights this holiday season, Paramount's Carowinds comes alive in a blaze of more than 1 million twinkling lights. Featured attractions incluse the Carolina Skytower, Which turns into one of the tallest Christmas trees in the world. Holiday Illuminations, A dazzzling outdoor water lightshow, and Santa's Toy Factory, a spectacular live performance takeing guest into Santa's workshop. Guest also can in a merry march of floats deplicting classic Christmas scenes in the Christmas parade, take a twirl on one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in the area and enjoy scrumptious holiday food, shopping and so much more.

WinterFest will be a remarkable, memory-makeing event that guest are going to want to share with family and friends. This will be the singular defining holiday event throughout the entire region, with a scope and quality that will rival other national holiday events.

Throughout the park, the merriment of a holiday celebration comes alive as guest enounter roving street performers such as carolers, a brass quintet, stilt walkers, jugglers and an array of other WinterFest Christmas cheer ambassadors.


SANTA LAND

Carolina Skytower Christmas Tree - Offering a Christmas twist of it's own, the Carolina Skytower becomes the shimmering centerpiece of WinterFest, hearlding the season from miles away as it becomes a 320ft tall holiday tree. One of the tallest Christmas trees in the world, the Skytower features glowing Christmas lights cascading down the tower and a familiar Paramount sight, the star-field spray, created by thousands of points of lights, which sits atop this magically illuminated icon.

Santa Claus - Amidst the holiday splender, young visitors will find a familiar face. Flanked by his helpers and surrounded by trees and presents, jolly ol' Saint Nick is eager to listen to everyone's holiday wishes.

65ft Walk-Through Tree - Across from Santa and his sleigh is a towering, 65 foot fir tree that sits atop an giant toy drum. The elaborately decorated tree is filled with oversized glittering ornaments and whimiscal holiday stars; but this is no ordinary evergreen. Guest experience an enchanting journey right through the center while gazing at thousands of twinkling lights overhead.

Christmas Parade - Guest can help paint the town red and green with Yuletide cheer during this merry march. A Christmas convoy of festively-themed floats travels through the park during the WinterFest Christmas Parade, presented once each night.


CAROLINA CHRISTMAS

Guest get a taste of southern hospitality, Yultide-style, in Carolina Christmas. A giant shade arbor archway is shrouded in thousands of twinkling lights, framing the entrance to the Victorian garden. The trees will be ablaze as every branch, nook and cranny is filled with miniature lights.

Carolina Christmas Gazebo - No Victorian garden would be complete without a charming gazebo at it's center. Festooned in holiday finery and aglow with lights, the gazebo serves as a performance stage for strolling minstrels including carolers and a magician.

Santa's Toy Factory Musical - Guaranteed to be a holidayfamily favorite, this 25 minute musical comes to life several times each night in the Paramount Theatre. Santa's Toy Factory is a livelyand nostalgic stage show that gives the audience a peek into the North Pole's secret toy workshop where santa, his elves and a few other friends - includding dancing reindeer and singing penguins - come to life in song and dance as they get ready for their big night! The show culminates in a mesmerizing, memorable scene of a white Christmas as snow falls lightly on the audience in a dramatic finale.


NICKMAS

Nicktoons Holiday Tree Lot - The Nicktoons get into the holiday celebration in their own wonderland of wacky seasonal delights, kooky ornaments and colorful lights in Nickmas. In the Nicktoons Holiday Tree Lot, kids can greet Nickelodeon characters, including Spongebob and Dora and purchase an early Christmas gift - a photo of their favorite dressed in festive holiday attire.

Nickmas Ice Rink - Adding to the silly, seasonal play in Nickmas, kids and their families can twirl, spine and glide to the sounds holiday music on one of the largest outdoor ice rinks in the southeast, or just enjoy the spectacle from the sidelines with a cup of hot cocoa. Skaes of all sizes are available for rental in the skate shop next door.


RIVERTOWN

Holiday Illuminations - Holiday revelers will be mesmerized by a splash of holiday cheer as they watch an entrancing light and water spectacular. Holiday Illuminations is a brilliantly choreographed display, as fountain waters dance in time to a lively medely of holiday tunes in a wintry waltz before culminating in a stunning finale.

Ebenezer Scrooge - Rivertown is also the home to the crotchety Christmas curmudegon himself, Ebenezer Scrooge. Giving the holiday season the cold shoulder, Scrooge makes certain that his surly Christmas message of BAH! HUMBUG! is heard loud and clear by unsuspecting passers-by. The ill-tempered Scrooge helps make the season bright for WinterFest visitors in his own cantankerous way.


In addition to the multitude of holiday cheer at WinterFest, a select number of the park's children's rides and attraction will be open each night.

Guest can sample the cuisine of the season at the Winter Festhaus Feast featuring a traditional meal of turkey, ham and all the trimmings. Many of WinterFest's strolling street performers stop by to entertain, makeing for a very merry evening indeed.

WinterFest will take place on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights, Nov. 25 - Dec. 11, and every night Dec.16 - 23 and 26-31. Paramount's Carowinds will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Open 5-10pm pn most nights and 5-9pm on sundays.

Discount tickets for WinterFest can be purchased online at http://www.carowinds.com. Tickets purchased 3 days or more days in advance are $19.99. Tickets purchased less than 3 days in advance on the website are $22.99. A special combo ticket that includes the Winter Festhaus Feast are also available online. Non-discounted tickets will be available at the gate each event evening.

[bgwfreak]

<a href='http://www.carowinds.com/winterfest/index.cfm' target='_blank'>http://www.carowinds.com/winterfest/index.cfm</a>

That is by far the nicest looking site Carowinds has ever done.

I'm looking forward to this.

[RollerBee]

And one ride running, and ain't it Top Gun. I sortof wouldn't be surprised to see the Nick-o-round running.

[coasterbruh]

who cares about rides its called WINTERFEST not ride all day fest...

BTW...Dont you have a website to master..