WINTER BLUNDERLAND!
Slush-covered skating rink, tacky stalls, a sea of mud and no Santa
‘Santa was off sick yesterday’
TANTALISING online images made Winterfest seem a seasonal fantasy, with friends huddled over hot chocolate and Santa in his grotto.
Families could look forward to a Christmas market, a Ferris wheel and tasty street food.
But it all turned into a winter blunderland after the ice rink melted, the grounds became a mud bath, high winds shut the Ferris wheel and Santa got snowed in at his home in Nottingham.
In the end, so many families complained that the event at Crystal Palace Park in south-east London had to be closed perma- nently after its opening weekend – even though it was due to run until January 2.
Pictures of the muddy festival, which opened last Friday, show only a few paltry stalls, tacky plastic reindeer and forlorn fairground rides that cost up to £3 each.
Parents who questioned the closure on Facebook received alarming responses from those who had attended.
Sharon Robinson wrote: ‘Don’t bother, ice skating has been closed for two days now... Santa was off sick yesterday, didn’t have a stand-by. Burger van was closed, hot dogs £5 and horrible. Not very good.’
A Winterfest spokesman said: ‘We have decided to close the event due to adverse weather. Refunds for online bookings will be made within seven working days.’