If you haven’t started working on your Christmas wish list, well, you better get on it because Santa is making a stop in Windsor.
The town of Windsor is once again hosting its annual Windsor Wonderland on Saturday, Dec. 2 at Boardwalk Park, 100 N. Fifth St.
All ages are invited to come on down to the park for some fun and festive activities and entertainment hosted by town staff as well as local businesses and organizations.
Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. with musical performances from local schools and organizations.
“This year, the park will be transformed into a wonderland of lights. In addition, we will also have a live band playing holiday classics during the event,” Events Coordinator Lexie Spykstra said. “I personally am really looking forward to making this a magical event for everyone to attend. We continue to enhance the event year after year and that is the fun of it.”
Things really get exciting when Santa rolls into town at 4:30 p.m. on the Great Western Railway Train.
You’ll want to secure your spot along the tracks early since there will be lots of people waiting to welcome the big man in red.
Santa’s arrival by train is just the beginning of the fun.
Other activities scheduled to take place at the Winter Wonderland include:
- S’mores, food trucks and tours of the Clearview Library Bookmobile —4-8:30 p.m.;
- Performance from Windsor Middle School choir — 4:30-5 p.m.;
- Holiday Proclamation by Town of Windsor Mayor Paul Rennemeyer and tree lighting ceremony —5-5:30 p.m.;
- Buddy the Elf Spaghetti Eating Contest — 5:30-6 p.m.;
- Complimentary photos with Santa, carriage rides and inflatables —5:30-8 p.m.;
- Holiday performances by a variety of bands — 6-8 p.m.
The annual Windsor Wonderland event is a community tradition that celebrates and shares the spirit of the season through supporting local nonprofits.
The Windsor Community Recreation Center has partnered with the Windsor-Severance Food Pantry to accept donations of packaged, non-perishable food items to help local families in need during the holiday season during the Winter Wonderland event.
“The Windsor-Severance Food Pantry has partnered with the Windsor rec center for several years. The pantry relies on food drives and donations from individuals to keep our shelves stocked throughout the year. The Windsor Wonderland event is a great way for the community to get involved in helping the pantry continue doing the work that we do,” explained Brenda Heckman, executive director of the Windsor-Severance Food Pantry. “The Windsor-Severance Food Pantry appreciates the support and generosity of the Windsor-Severance community.”
Some of the different types of food items that make great donations are:
- Canned vegetables and beans;
- Whole wheat or vegetable pasta;
- Boxed whole grain crackers;
- Unsweetened applesauce;
- Canned tuna in water;
- Boxes of cereal or oatmeal;
- Canned chicken, vegetable or bean soups;
- Canned fruit;
- Brown rice;
- Macaroni and cheese;
- Can or jar pasta sauce;
- Instant mashed potatoes;
- Canned stew or chili.
“Any non-perishable food item is good to donate. We are always in need of flour, sugar, oil, jello, pudding, peanut butter and jelly. Snack items are always good too,” Heckman said. “Donating is very simple, just take it to the rec center and drop it in a bin.”
For each donated item, the name of the donor will be entered into a drawing to win a VIP experience at the Windsor Wonderland, which includes a one-on-one visit with Santa for cookies and cocoa as well as a private tour of the train. FCI Constructors will also be presenting a gift basket to the winning family.
Winners will be drawn at noon Friday, Dec. 1 and contacted via phone.
Winners must be able to attend the Windsor Wonderland event to claim their prize. If the winner is not available, a second drawing will take place.
The recreation center will be accepting donations until noon Friday, Dec. 1 at 250 N. 11th St.
“This is more than a traditional festival,” Spykstra said. “This event allows our community to come together, enjoy an annual holiday tradition while also giving them the opportunity to pay it forward to families in need through our partnerships with the Windsor Severance Food Pantry.”
To learn more about the Windsor-Severance Food Pantry, go to windsorseverancefoodpantry.com.
The Wonderland is one of Windsor’s largest events each year and everything at the celebration is free — from the s’mores and carriage rides to hot chocolate and reindeer petting zoo and much more —thanks to local businesses and organizations stepping up as sponsors, Spykstra said.
Heidi Washburn, owner of State Farm Insurance, located at 519 Main St. in downtown Windsor, is just one of the many sponsors of the holiday celebration.
Other sponsors of this year’s Wonderland include:
- Kids’ Nite Out;
- Re/Max Alliance;
- OmniTrax;
- Dellenbach;
- Renewal by Andersen;
- FCI Constructors;
- Mail N’ Copy;
- Associates in Family Medicine;
- Sugarbee Cookie Company;
- iHeart Media;
- Aims Community College;
- Ameritech Windows;
- Traverse Christian Church;
- Inta Juice;
- Windsor Arts Commission.
Windsor Wonderland is an outdoor event, so attendees are advised to dress for chilly weather with hats, gloves, thick socks, coats and shoes that are easy and comfortable to walk in. Pets are also welcome to participate in the fun, however, they must be leashed at all times and owner need to clean up after their fur babies.
Other holiday events set to take place in and around Windsor include:
The Windsor Community Recreation Center’s Holiday Hoopla takes place from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 at 250 N. 11th St., Windsor. The free event, open to all ages, features cookie decorating, craft tables, hot chocolate, fire pits and more. Registration is not required to attend. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3QPmqVx.
The Holiday Lane Drive-Through kicks off at 5:30 p.m. and goes to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Island Grove Regional Park at 11th Avenue and D Street. The event will feature amazing light displays and decorations created by local nonprofits, businesses, organizations and other community members. Admission is $5 per car and $10 per vehicle with seats of 10 or more. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/3SwNqu3.
K-Love’s Celebrate Christmas Tour featuring Natalie Grant and Danny Gokey with special guest Mac Powell takes place at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 at the Blue Federal Credit Union Arena, 5280 Arena Circle, Loveland. The duo will be performing all the best holiday hits that all ages will enjoy. Tickets range from $23 per person to $74 per person depending on seat choice. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/49s8t73.
The NoCo Winter Wonderland Drive-Through Holiday Light event will run through Sunday, Dec. 31 at 4927 E. County Road, Fort Collins. The drive-through light display will feature thousands of twinkling lights set up in festive holiday displays that attendees can enjoy from the comfort and warmth of their cars. All ages are welcome to attend and admission is $25 per vehicle. Timed entry tickets are available for purchase online at nocowinterwonderland.com.
Winter Wonderlights 2023 takes place from 5-9 p.m. each night through Monday, Jan. 1 at the Chapungu Sculpture Park at Centerra at 5995 Sky Pond Drive, Loveland. Visitors of all ages can walk through the park to see 150,000 lights including holiday string lights, twinkling bulbs, LED mappable snowflakes, illuminated African stone sculptures and 30-minute music and light show. The event is free and parking is located around the sculpture park and at the shopping center. For more information, go to https://bit.ly/2KXsd9d.
