The opportunity to ice skate in Tropicana Field or anywhere in the Sunshine State is rare if not impossible. But thanks to the magic of the season (and a lot of showmanship) residents can skate a winding path lit by holiday paths in search of missing reindeer.
Enchant Christmas Light Maze & Market, an annual event special for this time of year in St. Petersburg, opened on November 22 inside the stadium. Tropicana Field is one of three sites to host this holiday event. Washington, D.C. and Seattle, Washington are the other locations.
While the other sites have hosting experience, this is new for St.Pete.
“Enchant travels through North America and hits cities with Major League Baseball stadiums,” explained public relations specialist Mackenzie Fox. “With the overwhelming success in the debut cities, the founders set their sights on the south and Tropicana Field seemed like a natural choice.
“Tampa Bay doesn’t experience winter like the other markets (Seattle and Washington DC), so it’s exciting to bring a winter wonderland to the Sunshine State and spread holiday joy across the region,” Fox continued.
Enchant Christmas is a ticketed event that features a 90,000 foot in length Christmas light maze and artisan market. Guests ice skate through the maze, shop in the market and hunt for missing reindeer, which is this year’s storyline. Other holiday-focused happening as part of this event include Christmas Carolers, a chance to converse with Santa Claus, a designated Kids Zone, and craft making opportunities.
Families and children enjoy the ice track while inside the Enchant maze.
Food is available on site and is sourced locally, as is other vendors for the market area and crafting activity.
Ice skates are available for rent on site, or guests may bring their own in clear plastic bags.
“Each year will follow a different story,” Fox said. “This year’s maze is based on Enchant’s storybook, The Great Search. In this story, Santa’s reindeer are accidentally set free by an elf named Eddie and the entire city is charged with helping him track them down in order to save Christmas. You’ll have to stay tuned for next year’s storyline.”
Entry into Tropicana Field for the winter wonderland event includes single ticket general admission, VIP experiences, and value evenings. Group packages and holiday suite bookings are also offered.
Fox described Enchant Christmas as a large-scale, fully immersive holiday experience. The larger-than-life maze experience incorporates custom made light sculptures, she said. It is described as entering a story book, with the centerpiece of the maze an 80-foot tall lighted pine tree. Organizers claim this tree is larger than the one on display at Rockereller Centre in New York City.
Enchant Christmas is produced by Vancouver-based Shine Lighting Group, Inc., a professional Christmas light company serving Canada and the U.S. since 2010. According to Fox, Shine specializes in the design and implementation of tailor-made lighting experiences for public spaces.
“Their passion is crafting a visual experience that encourages interaction and creates a festive atmosphere for guests to enjoy,” Fox noted.
Tickets range from $14.99 for children to $32.99 for adults. There is a discounted price for senior citizens, members of the military, emergency responders, and students. A four-ticket family pack is also available for a discounted price. Prices vary based on time and date.
Tickets can be obtained at EnchantChristmas.com, or at the box office.
This event is family-friendly and accessible to individuals with disabilities. Some restrictions apply in regards to the use of strollers inside the maze.
“There’s a little bit of everything for everyone — whether you’re a young family or enjoying a date night,” Fox said. “Make sure to get your tickets prior to attending and pick the arrival window that best suits your schedule.
“The arrival window is the earliest period of time you are able to enter the venue,” she continued. “This is done to make sure that each guest has a magical experience and to avoid overcrowding. Once you have entered Enchant, you’re able to stay for as long as you’d like.
“If you plan on renting skates, we highly recommend completing the waiver online prior to visiting as well to save time.
Enchant Christmas closed for the Thanksgiving holidays and continues through December 29.
And a place to stay while experiencing Christmas in St. Petersburg is the KOA Campground on Maderia Beach. While it is located on the opposite side of the Pinellas County Peninsula, it is easy to reach and close to the Gulf of Mexico beaches. There is easy access to the Pinellas Trail and a mangrove lined bayou for that natural Florida scenery.
This Mobile RVing Preferred Property offers shuffleboard, a bocce ball toss or petanque, as well as mini golf and volleyball. Water aerobics, yoga, quilting, and water color classes are just some of the many programs offered at the St. Petersburg KOA.