Holiday in the Park

txnhrt · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 7:54 pm Post subject: Holiday in the Park

http://sanantonio.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2007/08/27/daily15.html

Fiesta Texas extends park operations into holiday season-
San Antonio Business Journal - 5:20 PM CDT Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Six Flags Fiesta Texas is planning its first Holiday in the Park season in 10 years.

Following Halloween, the theme park will be switched over from its popular Fright Fest decor with all of its thrill rides to a Christmas theme complete with yuletide merriment.

The theme park normally closes in the fall. However, under this new holiday schedule beginning the first weekend after Thanksgiving, the park will be open every weekend from Nov. 23 through Dec. 23. Fiesta Texas will be open daily from Dec. 26-30 and again on Jan. 1-6. The park will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, however.

Fiesta Texas will re-introduce a live show called Majesty of Christmas, which is a musical performance of the Nativity story. The show will feature live animals such as camels and sheep, flying angels and performances by Mary and Joseph.

Fiesta Texas produced a Christmas performance in 1997. However, Synde Purvis, director of communications for Fiesta Texas, says this year the performance has been expanded significantly.
The park will also produce a new show called Magical Musical Christmas at Sangerfest Halle and a new Latin-themed show at Teatro Fiesta.

The company is also extending admission to season-pass holders during the holiday hours of operation.

Select rides in the park, such as Tony Hawk's Big Spin, Boomerang, Poltergeist, Scooby-Doo Ghostblasters and S.S. Overboard will be open.
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ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

Majesty of Christmas! A show under this name took place for a few years at SFOT back in the 90s, and it took place in the Music Mill Amphitheater--the same place they put the Cirque Dreams show this year. With Fiesta's show reputation, I think I'll be making my first-ever Christmas trip to San Antonio, because I loved the show they had at SFOT.

bigboy · Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject:

I'm not surprised that Majesty is being included when you consider who is planning Fiesta's HIP.

ThatTh*ngGirl · Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2007 11:34 am Post subject:

formerplayer · Serpent Rider Joined: 03 Sep 2007 Posts: 5

nholt · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 5:50 pm Post subject:

http://austin.craigslist.org/med/445205893.html

Here is a casting notice.
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twist3d · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:13 pm Post subject:

Hahahaha. I like this quote:

"a male-bearded Christmas iconic character"

Can't they just say Santa? Haha...
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smith · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 12:43 am Post subject:

Has anybody been to it yet?

rusty_tracks · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:32 am Post subject:

txnhrt · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:33 am Post subject:

The park is BEAUTIFUL. Not only are there TONS of lights and decorations of ALL kinds, but they don't look "thrown together"... very well designed, organized, and displayed, and positively breathtaking.

Texas State Square CAN'T be beat.

The light show in the Square is VERY cool. The two songs used for it last night were Wizards in Winter and the Nutcracker, but I'm told there should be two additional musical pieces added. The show is approximately every 15 minutes, the songs alternate, and each lasts about 3 minutes. What they did with the lights, from the standpoint of where they are and how they rotate throughout each song (colors, which lights, etc.), is very complex, and amazing.

KUDOS to all those who worked so hard for so many hours putting that light show together. All I can say is WOW.

We also saw Majesty of Christmas. There are two shows each evening, 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booths, Guest Relations, and Hospitality.

What a great show! The music is so moving... the stage is amazing... and the performers are outstanding, as expected. It's certainly something that they are able to use live animals in the show... a donkey, sheep... and one that I'm not going to give away. All I can say is when I saw this, my jaw dropped.

I think one of the highlights of the show for me was the little girl singing Away in a Manger. I don't know how old she is, but she performed that song so well... if that didn't give everyone goosebumps and bring tears to the eyes, I don't know what would.

Most importantly of all, this is the story of Christmas... what gives us the spirit of the season... and what makes us (hopefully) treat each other with more kindness.

And parents, anyone with children who know that seeing Santa before Christmas Eve is a MUST DO, you need to bring your children out to see Santa in Santa's Castle. The entire castle has been transformed into a wonderland of elves and toys, trees and decorations. Every corner, every turn, every nook and cranny is filled with the delights of Christmas. Even the dragon is dressed for Christmas with a great 'santa hat' and big red bow. But watch out! The dragon's lair is also the storage area for the coal that's given to all the naughty children out there!

There's a Christmas movie playing on all the tv screens throughout the castle, keeping everyone entertained while awaiting their turn with Santa. Last night they were playing "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (1970).

Oh, and true to Santa's Castle, the smells of peppermint and evergeen are everpresent as you make your way through....

The exterior of the castle is stunning. Red and White lights, lollipops, and even a special sign for the castle truly make you feel you've been carried to the North Pole (sans snow, of course!).

Poltergeist wasn't able to run due to the temperatures... it's a little 'testy' in cold weather; I guess like me- very cold-natured. All the flats in the open sections were running, including Scream!. THBS was running, and although Boom was also being a little 'testy' at first, it was up and running before too long.

The shows are GREAT as well. There is a mariachi band playing in Teatro, and a wonderful show in Sangerfest Halle. The tables have been re-arranged just a tad in Sangerfest, with some 'special' seating toward the front near the stage. VERY COOL! The stage and area are full of Christmas decor, as well as hangings from the ceiling.

And the 'typical' food offerings in Sangerfest? NO WAY!! This is holiday fare, and from the looks of the lines, it was a huge hit. I didn't get a chance to try it myself, but with words like tamales, turkey, and "fixin's", I know I will find myself in that line before the season is over.

The coffee cart is great, and one of the first places my husband wandered to. Me, well I had to run for the hot apple cider. I mean, originally we heard 'coffee and hot chocolate', and since I don't drink either I wished with all I had that somehow the cider would make its way into the line-up.. and it did!! WOOO HOOO!!! And boy, was it GOOOOOD. They even put a stick of cinnamon in it! All I can say is YUMMY.

And you know, the very cool light-up blinking holiday mug isn't half bad either!

To find the hot chocolate and hot apple cider, look toward Mi Pueblito... because that's where you'll find it!

All of you that like Kettle Corn, you're going to love the special treat they have just inside Spassburg... I don't think I can remember all the flavors, but how does this sound... chocolate covered, strawberry covered, strawberry-banana covered, cheesecake covered, and the list goes on... it sure did smell good too!

And the tree... yes, that 100-foot awe-inspiring tree. There are no words. Stunning, beautiful, awesome, mind-boggling, gorgeous, amazing, yes, the tree is all of these and more. As a child I loved laying on my back with my head under the tree, looking up through the branches at the way the lights looked. With this tree you can do that too... but you don't have to lay down to do it. You can STAND underneath it!

Although it was cooooollllddd and windy last night, we had a great time. Rides and 'normal' park activities aside, I could sit on a bench and just stare at the lights. It has been many years since I saw this park dressed up for Christmas... all I can say is, she still looks VERY good in seasonal finery!!
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txnhrt · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:38 am Post subject:

Here's a link to photos (each photo is clickable for a larger photo):

http://sfftnet.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7541&postcount=77

I'll be uploading photos from tonight, probably tomorrow night, and will post some of those as well.
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txnhrt · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:43 am Post subject:

An 'update' on the TR, from tonight's visit to the park:

It's amazing how many lights there are everywhere. I'm not sure, but I don't think there is much that isn't covered in lights in Los Festivales, Texas State Square, and Spassburg.

I noticed that most (if not all) store windows are decorated, and there are decorations and/or trees in some of the 'tower' rooms as well. Every store has a Christmas tree and/or holiday decor of some kind inside them... and every spot feels "festive".

We we made it in to see Santa, and all I can say is, I think they got the REAL Santa to come down here, instead of one of his elves. If anyone has the opportunity to come for HiP, be sure to go in and see him for yourself, if you can... you'll see what I mean! I don't know how they managed it, but this has to be the real deal.

It was colder out there tonight, so we didn't stay as long as we did last night. But, we still enjoyed ourselves immensely. I caught the Carolers tonight by the tree, and they were outstanding.
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nholt · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 2:52 am Post subject:

Thanks for the trip report. I might have to make a trip over there to check it out. Is Superman, Tony Hawk, and the Rattler open?
_________________
An Apple a day keeps Windows away
The Giant and the Bullet are my favs.
I drove down 610 looked over and all I saw were memories Sad

txnhrt · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 3:10 am Post subject:

Start Inhibit Dan · Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject:

I'm Heading to FT this weekend!!! YEE HOO!!! Anyone have any discount ticket info?
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