People not from Los Angeles like to say that they enjoy seasonal changes: autumn foliage, winter snow, spring rain, summer heat. I get it. During my recent trip to Chicago last week, I was giddy with childish delight when I saw fresh white powder softly spilling out from the sky. I called up Monkey King and squealed, “It’s snowing! It’s snowing!” Growing up in New York, I’ve had my share of cozy white Christmas spent with family indoors with laughter and hot pot meals.
It is therefore with this holiday spirit that I decided to check out our local Venice Winter Wonderland. Yes! Winter Wonderland right on Venice beach, complete with gingerbread house decoration, snowball, snowman, giant inflatable slide, small train, and snow globe with Santa. The venue is right by the Venice Skatepark. The size of the venue is tiny, way smaller than your average elementary school Halloween festivals on the Westside. There is no entry fee. Once in, you buy tickets to participate in the various games and activities. 7 tickets for $15. Plumster went straight to the cupcake decorating stand: 1 ticket.
Next: SNOW! Yes, there is a patch of grass area where they cover with snow. With the cost of 1 ticket, you get to play with snow, right on the beach. There is a friendly lady to instruct our little Angelenos how to make snow balls and build a snowman. I kid you not.
Plumster’s little snowman.
There are gingerbread house decorating, face painting, and a couple of games for children. Like I said before, this Winter Wonderland is tiny. But what they lack in size, they make up with their heart. The volunteers that work here are genuinely happy, and are super friendly to engage our little ones to go play. There is even photo opportunity with Santa inside a giant snow globe that we did not participate in. Cost: 30 tickets!
If you are hungry, there is popcorn, tamale, coffee and tea.
At the end of the day, we walked along the beach and enjoyed a typical Venice sunset.
December 5th -January 4th, 2014.
Go check it out!
sugarplumfairyblog 
This post slipped by and so did the snow in Venice. I had no idea! But I confess I take out my skates once a year when the rink sets up shop in Santa Monica.
We walk by the Santa Monica rink and talk about how we should go take a spin every year but never make it! Good for you!