7th Annual Winter Wonderland Opens November 25th

7^th Annual Winter Wonderland Opens November 25^th

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 7^th Annual Winter Wonderland on Saturday, November 25^th. 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 2^nd. 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 25^th through December 31^st 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 2^nd

11:15am – 12:00pm Wolfgang and Mystique

12:30pm – 1:15pm Indiana Ballet Theatre

1:45pm – 2:30pm Gavit High School Choir

December 3^rd

11:15am – 12:00pm Morton High School Choir

12:30pm – 1:15pm Nordikids

1:45pm – 2:30pm Ballet Folkloria

December 9^th

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 10^th

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 16^th

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 17^th

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