Pawtucket gets ready for Winter Wonderland

PAWTUCKET - The city's ever-popular Winter Wonderland, an affordable option for families, is expected to be the best ever when it opens to visitors on Dec. 5 in Slater Memorial Park.

The 2009 Pawtucket Winter Wonderland will feature 420 decorated trees compared with just 100 brightly lit trees when Winter Wonderland was started 11 years ago.

Winter Wonderland will be open to visitors on Saturday, Dec. 5, and Sunday, Dec. 6, and again on Dec. 12 and Dec. 13.

Volunteers are also setting up the 20 decorated Victorian houses built and maintained by Bob Machowski Sr. and Bob Machowski Jr., and sponsored by businesses.

For the first time ever, this year's Winter Wonderland will kick off on Dec. 5 at 4 p.m. with an opening parade. Santa's parade will include Dancin' Spirit dancers, OSF cheerleaders, antique autos and a few surprises. Santa will be welcomed at the carousal by two of his elves along with Pawtucket Major James Doyle, 2009 official Winter Wonderland weatherman ABC 6's Meteorologist Jim Corbin, Wonderland president Robert Machowski Jr., the Ocean State Chorus, along with other city dignitaries.

Corbin and Doyle will throw the switch to illuminate the park on opening night.

Pawtucket Winter Wonderland is a non-profit organization and is run entirely by volunteers in conjunction with the city of Pawtucket. Patrons may view various performing acts under the tents from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. each night, take a hayride or train ride for just $3, or ride Slater Park's decorated carousel for just 25 cents. A visit with Santa is free. A picture with Santa comes with a small fee.

Hotdogs and hot chocolate will also be available again this year.

For more information about Pawtucket Winter Wonderland, visit www.pawtucketwinterwonderland.org or call 726-3185.

Also at Slater Park, the historic nine-room Daggett House will be open for candlelight tours during Winter Wonderland festivities. Tours will be conducted by guides dressed in Colonial costumes. Live music will also be played during the tours, which will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13. A donation of $1 will be requested from adults, but just 50 cents for children.

The Daggett House, which traces its roots back to 1685, opened to the public in 1905 through the efforts of the Daughters of the American Revolution. George Washington's diary indicates that he stopped at the Daggett homestead on his way from Newport to Boston.

Call 722-6931 or 723-0145.