MOODY GARDENS REVEALS ICE LAND: ICE SCULPTURES, A CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS FOR 2016
Guests Will Dive to the Depths of the Gulf of Mexico for the Holidays
GALVESTON, Texas (July 11, 2016) The North Pole meets the Caribbean as Moody Gardens introduces
ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures, A Caribbean Christmas with a whole new theme and exciting new guest experiences on November 12. The award-winning VYA Team of master ice carvers from Harbin, China will return to Moody Gardens to chart the course for the ultimate Caribbean Christmas. For the first time guests will have the opportunity to receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes V.I.P. experience with these artists as they carve these magnificent, towering ice sculptures out of two million pounds of ice for a spectacular aquatic adventure.
Guests will embark on a breathtaking underwater journey from the shores of Galveston Island through the Gulf of Mexico. As they explore the oceans depths, they will dive for sunken treasure and see Christmas surprises along the way. An ice slide takes the form of a towering oil rig and an opportunity to venture through the beautiful Flower Garden Banks for encounters with spectacular schools of colorful tropical fish, eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, Hammerhead sharks and more on the way to their Caribbean island destination. There is even an opportunity to enjoy some festive holiday spirits inside of ICE LAND at Shiver’s Ice Bar.
In the third year, visitors will be fully immersed in the region’s coolest holiday attraction featuring nine different scenes. It will offer a more diverse range of sculptures than ever in the 28,000 sq. ft. insulated tent structure chilled and maintained at nine degrees.
The V.I.P. Ice Carving Team Experience will be offered daily Oct. 1 through Nov. 6. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It allows guests advance access to see the ice carvers in action as they create the giant ice sculptures. This is followed by a 45 minute Penguin Encounter during which visitors get to meet a real penguin at the Aquarium Pyramid. They return to have lunch with the ice carving team and enjoy an authentic Chinese meal and a Q&A session. The $199 package also includes a Penguin Art painting by a Moody Gardens penguin and a ticket to visit ICE LAND and Festival of Lights when the attractions open for the holiday season.
“We are very excited to create a signature Moody Gardens theme for ICE LAND this year,” said John Zendt, Moody Gardens President and CEO, who added that this years’ experience will be memorable, engaging and distinctive for visitors and the artists who are creating it. “This attraction shows an appreciation for all of the sea life and beauty offered right here in our own backyard with a special festive Christmas focus.”
Moody Gardens has become a holiday tradition as families throughout the region are offered a very diverse range of attractions to compliment ICE LAND including the Festival of Lights, an outdoor ice rink, Artic Ice Slide, a holiday buffet and train rides. Guests can also enjoy new holiday 3D films, the new Rudolph 4D film, and an exciting new Cirque Joyeux Noel Dinner and Show at the Moody Gardens Hotel.
ICE LAND will offer a unique holiday experience for the entire family and will be open November 12 through January 8, as Galveston makes its transition into the Winter Wonder Island. Admission for adults is $26.95, $21.95 for seniors and $15.95 for children. A Value Days discount of $5.00 is available Sunday through Thursday, November 15 – December 17 excluding Thanksgiving Day. A V.I.P. Guided Experience will also be available Sunday through Thursday with front-of-the-line access, a guided tour through ICE LAND, hot cocoa, souvenir family photo and admission to Festival of Lights. Special packages are available for groups of 20 or more.
For more information call 1-800-582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org .
Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.
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