An aerial view of Winter Wonderland this year (Image: WINTER WONDERLAND)
This year’s Winter Wonderland launch night might have been the coldest yet – but behind the bitterly cold winds lay a fairytale Christmas village.
London’s Hyde Park had been blanketed in a layer of snow just hours earlier, so the atmosphere could hardly have been more festive. The thermometer had plunged to several degrees colder than the November average, but I shivered my way through the big freeze to join a host of celebrities for the event’s VIP launch night.
isn’t deterred by extreme temperatures, as he’s battled far more intense ones while running 30 marathons in 30 days in the Jordanian desert this summer, facing conditions of up to 44C. Just below freezing was a piece of cake for him and wife Vogue, who were all smiles at the event.
Also present were singer Janet Jackson, ‘s with her sister and some of her kids, ex- actress and TV personality . The latter drew admiring glances for her luxurious-looking long faux fur coat, covered in multicoloured sequin stars and retailing at a cost of £380.
Outfits on the red carpet ranged from sparkly and glamorous to ultra casual, with everything from silver sequin leggings and high heels to tracksuits and trainers represented. Then there was the event, which offered plenty of returning attractions, including the UK’s largest ever outdoor ice rink.
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Spencer Matthews and wife Vogue at Winter Wonderland this year (Image: Getty)
It backed onto the red carpet, and one unlucky skater took a tumble on the ice after being distracted while ogling the celebrities, resulting in laughter all round.
The Disney+ Giant Wheel made a return, as did the Magical Ice Kingdom, and a huge array of food stalls with scents and flavours that could tempt even those arriving with totally full bellies.
The prices however, are not always for the faint-hearted, with the Texas Smoker charging a whopping £16 for a single portion of fries.
The venue advertises itself as a “100 per cent original grill house”, and has put a huge 1946 Chevy fire truck on display, which is even visible in aerial drone shots of Hyde Park.
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Imported from an Indian Reservation in Kansas, it proudly brands itself the “only fire truck smoker in the UK”.
Their chilli cheese fries come with homemade beef brisket chilli, cheese and chipotle sauce – and, at £2 pricier than the burgers, they’re clearly highly prized.
At the same price, there’s a foot-long sausage loaded with beef brisket and pulled pork and topped with BBQ sauce and spring onions – so portions are clearly American in size.
However, there are other stalls advertising halloumi fries for as little as £4.50, while if you forgot your gloves and your fingers are freezing off, the Get Loaded burger joint is the place to go for a blast of warm air.
Otherwise, simply look out for stalls with signs coaxing: “It’s warm inside” – and trust me, after a huge dose of icy temperatures, you’ll be running in pursuit of these zones.
Aside from American options, there are Bavarian Village locations where party-goers can eat and shop while enjoying the classic German Christmas market vibe.
There’s also a Circus Bar in a huge tent with neon lighting, which is plastered with traditional decades-old circus posters from around the world, including French-language ones.
Giant clowns and cabaret dancer figurines gaze down at you as you perch on one of the cheetah or giraffe seats, while Christmas classics belt out from the speakers.
Rides include an attraction that promises to take you around the world in a matter of minutes, with mock-up imagery of Venice, Cairo, San Francisco, Paris and Shanghai included to tease it, and a Haunted Mansion that was a firm favourite on the night, including with the celebrities.
Some prices – and brutal winter temperatures – aren’t for the faint-hearted, but wrap up warm and come looking for kitsch fun and you won’t be disappointed.