Snowing in Celebration, FL
Was it snowing in Celebration, FL last night?
My cousin Doug, his wife Amy and their 17 year old daughter, Brooke, came down from Pennsylvania to visit us this week. Brooke is a very special person. She is an angel. She was born with an unknown condition that makes it difficult for her to communicate. Doctors can’t figure out exactly what is wrong, so they simply say she is mentally challenged.
But it is a joy to watch her squeal with delight when she gets excited.
Last night we went to Celebration, FL, the town that Disney built. Every year from the end of November to the beginning of January they have a nightly celebration downtown. Every hour at 6, 7, 8 and 9 o’clock a half dozen specially designed machines blanket Market Street with “snow.” Of course, you can’t make real snow in the warm temperatures of Florida. It is really flakes of soap suds. But for all intents and purposes it gives the illusion that the street is being blanketed with snow.
The children cheer with excitement as the downtown music system gives a brief, “magical” introduction, the snow machines hum to life and white suds begin to fall as holiday music plays in the background.
No one was squealing louder or jumping higher than Brooke.
In addition to the snow, there is horse drawn carriage rides, a train-shaped ride and a place where the road is painted white and you can rent roller blades to “ice skate.”
Amy, Doug and Brooke With a Strangely Dressed Little Fella
Then there is a small, ginger bread house. When you walk inside, you find a small, hefty man in a red suit with a white beard. Brooke had a look of astonishment on her face. She immediately ran to the man and sat on his knee.
The downtown has a wonderful little lake you can walk around, a hotel, at least seven different restaurants of various ethnicities and several other shops to enjoy. We had a delicious Italian meal at Antonio’s Restaurant. We sat outside with a view of the lake, downtown sidewalk fountain and the kids delighting in the hourly snowfall.
It is also fun to drive around town and see many homes decked out in the most spectacular display of Christmas decorations I have ever seen.
There is no charge to enjoy the “snowfall.” The train, carriage rides and “ice” skating do cost money. You can pay to have a professional picture taken with Santa, but just to sit on his lap and use your own camera is free. Occasionally a quartet of Dickens Carolers will serenade you as you stroll through the market area.
What a quaint and wonderful evening.
Lance Around Orlando 
December 8, 2009 at 9:44 pm |
SO glad you had a nice time with Doug, Amy, and Brooke…PA missed them for sure…and we got REAL snow while they were away.