Pawtucket Winter Wonderland was an amazing event
As a Pawtucket Winter Wonderland elf, during the first two weekends of this month, I have been wrapped up in the Christmas spirit.
Throughout the year, the elves meet twice a week to test lights for the 650 trees, check displays, and make signs reflecting the memories of tree sponsors. On a separate night the builders and imaginers work on new displays or repairing old ones. All leading up to opening night on the first Saturday of December.
Tree day, as we call it, was the Thursday before opening and is the day people pick up their signs and pick out a tree in the display. Like last year, for safety, it was an outdoor event. We asked that people keep a distance and to not all show up at the same time and I’m happy to say for the most part people did.
This year’s opening night was amazing. I think people were just so happy to have somewhere to go with the family. We opened with a parade coming down the hill from Daggett Farms to the carousal.
Grand Marshal Mario Hilario led the parade with dancers from Pawtucket’s Dance Attitude Studio right behind him, followed by the Tolman High School Band led by Mr. Raymond, and ending with the arrival of Santa Clause. Soon, with a countdown lead by Santa, the park was a glow with the Winter Wonderland display.
Each year our imaginers try to come up with new displays. This year we entered the computer error with a row of dancing trees each one a different color flashing on and off in patterns to amaze you. Around the corner there was a new lighted package and two rows of giant lights in the shape of light bulbs. The display was also expanded to include a beautiful light display at Friendship Gardens. I can not imagine what next year will bring, I know I heard the guys talking already about some new ideas.
There were a few hiccups over the two weekends but the elves took it in stride. If elves had to leave others filled in, and if we were short people family members were called in. On the second Saturday rain, our enemy, didn’t scare the elves. As it turned out it didn’t scare the people either. In the end all four nights were extreme busy. The train ride was always full, Santa’s room used distant safety but still moved steadily, the snowman greeted hundreds of kids, and the food tent always had a line. In fact for the first time in 23 years we ran out of food.
There are so many people to thank I can not name them all but do want to thank them as groups, first the Wonderland elves, includes the light testers and event runners, the builders and imaginers, the City of Pawtucket workers who help put up the display each year, the people and businesses that sponsor the buildings and the 650 trees, the parade members and the entertainers, and of course the thousands of people who visit the display both on opening night and through out the months. The festival is over now but the display is open every day for viewing, either by car or walking, from now until January 3, 2022. The lights go on around 4 PM and are on
until around 9. You can enter either from Newport Avenue or Armistice Blvd.
I did have to leave early each night to give Tink her 7 p.m. pills. She gets a lot of pills but they do seem to be working. Last week we went to Fallon for the reading program. It really wasn’t “work,” she walked in got lots of attention and
laid down under the chair while the children read to her and Wendy. Since she perked up a little, I know she enjoyed it. At her 3 weeks checkup last week the doctors were happy with her progress. They took her off one med because her liver was good but change one to a different brand because it was affecting her kidneys.