Winter Wonderland, a celebration in its third year, will take on a new form in 2021 as Elon Outdoors, the Student Union Board and Late Night Elon will invite students to take part in a three-day event.
As Winter Term 2021 comes to a close, Elon students have the chance to unwind and catch up with friends and classmates in a safe and fun environment this week.
Elon Outdoors, the Student Union Board and Late Night Elon will host Winter Wonderland 2021 in the McMichael East parking lot Jan. 28 to Jan. 30, from 3 to 10 p.m. each day. Instead of a one-day, four-hour event as has been the case in past years, Winter Wonderland 2021 has been extended over three days and several hours to accommodate all students who want to safely attend the event.
“We wanted to expand the event and give students the opportunity throughout multiple days to be able to take advantage of this,” said Adrian Carpenter, assistant director of student involvement for campus activities.
This year’s event will feature a 2,000 sq. ft. ice skating rink, along with ice skates for students to check out, in the parking lot directly across Haggard Avenue from Lambert Academic Village. Students will be required to wear face masks throughout the event and only a limited number of skaters will be allowed on the ice at one time to promote physical distancing.
The event will also include areas around the rink for students to safely spend time with friends and enjoy some scheduled entertainment. Friday, students will be treated to a performance by recording artist Angie K at 8 p.m. Saturday will include a doughnut food truck, S’mores, hot chocolate, glow-in-the-dark miniature golf and performances by two student bands from 7 to 10 p.m.
Winter Wonderland will offer something for everyone, as organizers have put together a multi-faceted event full of safe opportunities for fellowship among the student body.
“It’s so important to put on an event like this that brings the community together,” Carpenter said. “We really just want to do everything we can to still provide opportunities to gather socially, but in physically distant ways.”
Elon Campus Safety and Police closed the McMichael East parking lot to allow organizers to prepare for the event on Tuesday night. The lot will remain closed through the conclusion of the event on Saturday. Those who normally park in McMichael East can park in the McMichael West lot, Koury Fine Arts lot, Colonnades lot, Historic Neighborhood lot, South Campus lots, or the Oaks Faculty/Staff lot.