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Winter Wonderland: More than just a bit of Festive Fun
Today sees the official launch of Winter Wonderland at the Cooper Associates County Ground.
The incredible event will run until Sunday January 4th and has everything that you could hope for this festive season, including: A covered real ice skating rink, An ‘Apres Winter’ Bar, Santa’s grotto, Seasonal food stalls, Fairground rides and much more!
However, there’s much more to the Winter Wonderland than you might think.
In addition to being a brilliant attraction for all the family, the event will provide a genuine boost to the local economy whilst also benefiting young people and the local community as Francesca Stokes from Best Events explains. “My sisters Chanel, Danielle and I have been involved in Christmas events up and down the country for many years and we wanted to do something in our home town. It’s great to be able to do something as a family here in Taunton. As well as the three of us, my husband and my two brothers-in-law have been helping to make and build everything, and our dad is here with the Helter Skelter because, even though he’s had offers from all over the country, he just wants to be involved in this with his girls.
“It’s going to be a great event and it’s important to us that we give something back to the town. The whole point is that Winter Wonderland will bring people to the town which will be good for the local economy. People can spend the afternoon in the shops and the cafes and the bars and then come here afterwards. We just want to do something good.
“We’re employing all our people from Taunton and the surrounding areas and where we can, we’re using local suppliers for the food and drink as well. All the baked goods come from Somerset Bakehouse, the fresh pork comes from Pynes in Bridgwater and we use all local wholesalers.
“The Cricket Club have been absolutely fantastic. They saw the dream that we had, and they’ve helped us turn it into a reality. Everyone has been really supportive, we’ve had a lot of people telling us that they can’t wait for it to open, and ticket sales are going well.
“We’ll be holding special sensory nights on the first two Wednesdays and we’ve invited some schools for children with additional needs to come down for free. We’ll also be working with Somerset Cricket Foundation to welcome older adults with dementia to the event. Winter Wonderland is for everyone, and to see everyone having a good time at events like this is the best part of the job because it’s just so rewarding.”
Somerset County Cricket Club CEO, Jamie Cox added: “This Club is based in the heart of the community, and the community is at the heart of everything that we are trying to achieve as a Club.
“It’s a pleasure to be able to host such a family friendly event which promises to have so many additional benefits for the town and wider region. The additional footfall to the town can only be of benefit, and at this time of year we are looking to help play a significant role in helping to create a sense of community spirit. In this regard we will be also donating a proportion of the takings to local charities.
“The organisers have an outstanding pedigree when it comes to hosting events like this and we have met with local residents in order to alleviate any concerns that have been raised. Following these meetings, we have amended the opening times and worked with all involved to make sure that the event can have as positive an impact as possible. This dialogue with local residents will be on-going for the duration of the event.
“We have worked closely with the Council and all the relevant bodies and stakeholders to ensure that due diligence has been observed at all times. This collaborative approach will hopefully ensure that the Winter Wonderland is an incredible festive experience for all.”
Entry to the Cooper Associates County Ground is free of charge.
For more information, including opening hours, visit our dedicated Winter Wonderland website:
Payment for fairground rides is via Twinkle Tokens which can be purchased on the day.
