Clearwater's 19th Annual Winter Wonderland Opens Friday, December 2nd

Online, November 26, 2011 (Newswire.com) - CLEARWATER: This Friday evening at 6:30pm, Clearwater's 19th Annual Winter Wonderland will open in downtown Clearwater, on the corner of Drew Street and Fort Harrison Avenue. Produced annually by the Clearwater Community Volunteers of the Church of Scientology, this event is run by volunteers and funded through donations raised throughout the year.

As in earlier years, Santa will make a spectacular surprise entrance during the opening ceremonies - just in time to light the hundreds of thousands of lights that cover Winter Wonderland.

This Alpine holiday display, which covers nearly a full block, offers visits with Santa, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, a petting zoo, a play ground and live entertainment. The event is free, but guests are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy or canned food which will be distributed to Tampa Bay's less fortunate families.

"It is exciting to see all of the families who come out, year after year, to get a bit of the cheer and the magic of the season," said Pam Ryan Anderson, the Executive Director of the Clearwater Community Volunteers. "I love how generous the community is here - last year we ended up collecting about a ton of food and toys for families who need some extra help at Christmas."

Additional activities, such as time in the bouncy house, train rides and photos with Santa cost $1 - $3 each, with those funds going to the Homeless Emergency Project, the Children's Home of Tampa and Clearwater Little League.

"The Founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard wrote that 'The whole future of the race depends on its attitude toward children," continued Anderson. "And sometimes, with the news you hear, you can think that our future is pretty bleak. But when I am at Winter Wonderland, I see the care that people have for children, and the pure willingness to help them and that shows me and my volunteers that there is hope for the future."

Nearly 800 volunteers work in constructing and running Winter Wonderland. Groups who lend their assistance include Boy Scout Troop 313, chartered to the Church of Scientology here in Clearwater. Every year, for the past many years, they have spent the Saturday after Thanksgiving "planting" the nearly 100 Christmas trees that are on display in the wonderland. Another group, led by Anderson, decorates the site so that it is ready for the 10,000 guests expected during the run of the event.

After the grand opening ceremony on the 2nd, Winter Wonderland will be open daily on weekends from 4-9pm, and on weekdays from 6 - 9pm, up until the 21st of December. For more information about Winter Wonderland, please go to www.clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org.

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