Families looking for kid-friendly fun in New York City this winter finally have a destination just for them.
Winter Wonderland is a 70,000-square-foot holiday village bringing a little North Pole magic to Staten Island’s Richmond County Bank Ballpark, located right next to the ferry terminal.
There may not be a single flake of real snow in Winter Wonderland, but there’s plenty of holiday-themed activities best for ages 5 to 12.
Kids can climb on a mechanized reindeer for a “race” around the Reindeer Run (parents can ride, too!), get a taste for downhill thrills on the Snowtube Slide, experience a “snowstorm” inside the Blizzard Box, play a round of Elf Mini Golf and decorate gingerbread men.
Pint-size carnival games mean kids can win their own stocking stuffers. To keep that throwing arm strong, concession booths sell fair food like burgers and fried Oreos, and the appropriately named Staten Island Noodles that defy any actual culinary category.
The $10 admission fee gets families access to activities suited to the smallest visitors, like the Candy Cane Activity Zone with cornhole and giant Jenga and Connect Four, four pint-size ball pits, a visit with Santa and the hourly light shows after dusk.
For the rest of the attractions and games, you’ll need tickets sold in books from 10 for $20 up to 100 for $100. Skating — on a synthetic ice rink, a sensible if less-than-seasonal move as temperatures continue to hit the high 50s — is another $10, plus a $5 skate rental.
When the grown-ups need a pick-me-up, parents can take shelter inside the Igloo Bar. The glass-walled heated lounge serves a modest selection of wine, beer and seasonal cocktails, with live entertainment at 4 and 7 p.m.
You can of course get some holiday shopping from 20 vendors, many of them local businesses like Staten Island MakerSpace etching customizable pint glasses, and Cecil & Abe Emporium with dog toys, essential oils and jewelry made by women in Uganda.
Each weekend, Winter Wonderland donates 10 percent of its proceeds to a different nonprofit organization including the St. George Theatre and the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island.
Winter Wonderland is open Thursdays through Sundays every weekend through Dec. 23 at 75 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island. Admission is $10, with skating, rides and games extra. For more information, call 877-786-6560 or visit winterwonderlandsi.com.