On Monday December 23rd, Clearwater’s Winter Wonderland concluded their 31st year of bringing joy to families in the Tampa Bay area. More importantly, the three-week event served as a food and toy drive for Pinellas County families in need. With more than 10,000 in attendance, Winter Wonderland gave families – those attending and those in need – a merrier holiday season.
Winter Wonderland is produced by the Clearwater Community Volunteers (CCV) and sponsored by the Church of Scientology. CCV was established in 1994 with the purpose of helping children and families in need in Pinellas County.
In summing up what makes Winter Wonderland successful, Pam Ryan Anderson, the Executive Director of Winter Wonderland, said “Winter Wonderland is a gorgeous place to visit and enjoy activities for families. From visiting Santa, to petting animals and enjoying a hot chocolate while watching the entertainment on the stage, and icing cookies with Mrs. Claus, there is nothing else like this.”
“We also strive to add something new every year, and this year we have the sparkly Cinderella Carriage. I thought it would be something people would enjoy, but it brought me true joy to watch how much people enjoyed it,” said Ryan-Anderson.