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PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
Visitors enjoy some time on the ice.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
One of the younger patrons gets a push in the skate helper.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
The skate helper gives a young skater some extra confidence on the ice.
A young skater enjoys the rink with a little help.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
Western Wonderland visitors enjoy the ice rink.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
Various entertainers graced the Peppermint Performance Stage over the event’s duration.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
Pride of Dripping Springs created a Hope Tree on the Trail of Lights.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
A young child takes a photo of her parents on the Trail of Lights.
PHOTO BY LAURIE ANDERSON
A family group enjoys the light displays along the trail.
As the days count down to the end of the year, this season’s Western Wonderland is also drawing to a close. The event’s last day will be Jan. 4.
Western Wonderland is an initiative of the City of Dripping Springs, and it is held at Dripping Springs Ranch Park (DSRP). At the heart of the party is the giant ice-skating rink, which is the largest outdoor ice-skating rink in Central Texas. It also includes the free Trail of Lights.
The venue is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. It will be closed on Christmas Day, and will close early at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.
General admission to the ice skating rink is $15 and includes skate rental. Spectators are free. Discounts are available for larger groups, and there is also a $100 skate pass that includes 10 visits. Those can be shared among family members and friends.
DSRP also offers ice skating lessons for all ages. They are held on Friday and Saturday mornings before the rink opens to the public, and the cost is $30.
On Dec. 30, there are two final special events. First, there is the Frozen Experience with Elsa. It starts at 9 a.m. as Elsa tells stories and leads a sing-along and Olaf craft. Then, there’s skating with Elsa at 10 a.m. The cost is $35 per child.
Finally, from 7 to 9 p.m. on Dec. 30, there’s Tween Scene on Ice, for ages 9-14. The cost is $15, which includes skates.
For registration information, or for other Western Wonderland details, visit www.drippingspringsranchpark.com and click “Western Wonderland.”
