7th Annual Winter Wonderland Opens November 25th
Hammond – More than 40 local not-for-profit organizations have been busy the past week decorating Christmas trees at the Indiana Welcome Center preparing for the opening of the 7th Annual Winter Wonderland on Saturday, November 25th. Speros A. Batistatos, President/CEO of the Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau said, “We are expecting an increased number of visitors to stop because of the holiday weekend. Our staff has been working diligently to prepare the W.F. Wellman Exhibit Hall to be the premier holiday event of Northwest Indiana.”
The holiday display will also feature live entertainment and free photos with Santa on Saturdays and Sundays beginning December 2nd. Families are allowed one free picture with an option to purchase additional photos in the Welcome Center gift shop. Live entertainment ranges from youth and church choirs to bands and performers.
Visitors to the Welcome Center have the opportunity to vote on their favorite tree; first, second and third place winners will be awarded. A variety of evergreen trees were donated by J&K Tree Farms, Egolf Christmas Trees, Curtis Christmas Trees, Hensler Nursery, Guse Christmas Trees and Kingma Christmas Tree Farm.
Winter Wonderland will be on display at the Indiana Welcome Center from November 25th through December 31st from 8am to 5pm. Pictures with Santa are available from 11am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays. A schedule of performers can be found below. For more information, please contact the Indiana Welcome Center at (219) 989-7979.
December 2nd
11:15am – 12:00pm Wolfgang and Mystique
12:30pm – 1:15pm Indiana Ballet Theatre
1:45pm – 2:30pm Gavit High School Choir
December 3rd
11:15am – 12:00pm Morton High School Choir
12:30pm – 1:15pm Nordikids
1:45pm – 2:30pm Ballet Folkloria
December 9th
10:00am – 10:45am Munster High School Jazz Band
11:15am – 12:00pm Family Christian Center Ministries
12:30pm – 1:15pm Peifer Elementary School
1:45pm – 2:30pm Hinken Family Singers
December 10th
11:15am – 12:00pm DJ Halicky and Jama Emerson
12:30pm – 1:15pm Just For Fun Ukuleles
1:45pm – 2:30pm Grimmer Middle School Bell Choir
December 16th
11:15am – 12:00pm Northwest Indiana Youth Chorus
12:30pm – 1:15pm Dyer Methodist Church Choir
1:45pm – 2:30pm DJ Halicky and Jama Emerson
December 17th
10:00am – 10:45am Northlake Church of Christ Choir
11:15am – 12:00pm Tamburitza Jr/Croation Strings
12:30pm – 1:15pm Noreen Novek Soloist
1:45pm – 2:30pm South Side Christian Church Hand Bells