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CARLSBAD, Calif. (Nov. 28, 2011) – Snow wasn’t the only new tradition added to LEGOLAND® California’s holiday season this year…The family theme park in Carlsbad created 50 new LEGO® skateboard ornaments for its 30-foot tall LEGO Christmas tree in honor of skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. Hawk and two of his children pulled the switch that lit the world’s largest LEGO® Christmas tree tonight after he was presented with $10,000 for the Tony Hawk Foundation by LEGOLAND General Manager Peter Ronchetti.
“I really want to thank LEGOLAND California for their support,” said Hawk. “I’m really excited to be here doing this today because I was one of the first Ambassador pass members here at LEGOLAND and my family and I come here probably more than I care to admit…so if anyone needs directions or recommendations here…I got you.” Hawk was also appreciative of the newest ornaments added to the tree in honor of his Foundation. It took five Master Model Builders more than two weeks to build the LEGO skateboards and each one is created out of 250 LEGO bricks. When the Park’s Holiday Snow Days comes to an end on Jan. 2, Hawk is going to sign each skateboard and each will be put up for auction with the proceeds going to the Stand up for Skateparks benefit in 2012. “The Tony Hawk Foundation aims to help the growing need of skateparks especially in lower income areas,” continued Hawk. TheTony Hawk Foundation has created 493 skateparks and awarded $3.9 million servicing 3.5 million youth annually across the nation.
Before presenting the donation to Hawk, Ronchetti recapped 2011 and hinted at things to come in 2012. “I’m happy to say it’s been another record year at LEGOLAND California Resort,” said Ronchetti. “In 2011 we introduced the popular Star Wars Miniland and we added Splash Zoo to the world’s first LEGO themed Water Park. We have great surprises in store for 2012 but you’ll have to wait until our January press conference for those details – tonight, it’s all about lighting this beautiful LEGO tree!”
Hawk and his sons Spencer (12) and Keegan (10) joined Santa on stage as they pulled the switch setting off hundreds of lights and a twinkling LEGO star, followed by snow showering Park guests and fireworks from above.
The tree is made of more than 245,000 forest green DUPLO® bricks, adorned with more than 240 LEGO ornaments and surrounded by packages and LEGO friends the whole family can enjoy. This is the first time the tree has been “rooted” in Fun Town. In fact, the entire Fun Town area has been transformed for LEGOLAND California’s Holiday Snow Days presented by Western Dental which runs through Jan. 2, 2012.
During Holiday Snow Days, guests can forget they are in sunny, southern California as they build snowmen using LEGO carrots and other LEGO elements, throw snowballs at LEGO themed targets and play with large, soft LEGO bricks in the snow. Along with the snow-filled fun, there are vibrant holiday decorations, festive entertainment plus nightly fireworks Dec. 26 through 31. Children may pose with a five-foot tall snowman made of more than 37,000 LEGO bricks or with a life-size LEGO Santa, his sleigh and two reindeer featuring 51,100 LEGO bricks. Also, from Dec. 1 through 24, a child will be selected via the LEGOLAND Facebook page to help pull the switch that lights the LEGO tree during a fun ceremony right before the Park closes each night. “Let it Snow”, an enchanting mini-musical returns with festive songs, dancing and a holiday story to warm guest’s hearts. The musical holiday show runs daily through Jan. 2.
And SEA LIFE™ Carlsbad Aquarium is celebrating the holidays with a not-to-be-missed holiday-themed Daily Dive Show, a ‘green’ crafting event and other festive activities every weekend during Holiday Snow Days. SEA LIFE also is sharing ‘green’ holiday tips with visitors in hopes that guests will take care of our environment now and throughout the year.
The holiday season at LEGOLAND concludes with the one-and-only Kids’ New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 31. The party begins with a mini-concert in Fun Town during the day and continues with games and special musical performances from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Miniland U.S.A. Like the famous Times Square party, Kids’ New Year’s Eve features a countdown followed by a huge LEGO brick dropping 22 feet into 2012 and dazzling fireworks cap off the night!
For more information on Holiday Snow Days at LEGOLAND, event schedules, hours and prices visit www.LEGOLAND.com or call (760) 918-LEGO.
MERLIN ENTERTAINMENTS is the leading name in location-based, family entertainment, and has seen the most successful and dynamic growth of any company in the sector over the last five years. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, By the end of 2011 Merlin will operate 78 attractions, six hotels/two holiday villages in 17 countries and across four continents. The company aims to deliver memorable and rewarding experiences to its 43.6 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its managers and more than 16,000 employees. Merlin Entertainments operates the following attractions - SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, LEGOLAND, The EDF Energy London Eye, Dungeons, Gardaland, LEGOLAND Discovery Centres, Alton Towers Resort, Warwick Castle, Thorpe Park, Chessington World of Adventures Resort, Blackpool Tower, Heide Park, Earth Explorer, Sydney Aquarium, WILD LIFE Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye and SKYWALK, Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter Underwater World, Oceanworld Manly and Hamilton Island Wildlife Park. All brands which are distinctive, challenging and innovative – and which have great potential for growth in the future. Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.
A charitable, non-profit organization, the Tony Hawk Foundation was established in 2002 by its namesake, professional skateboarder Tony Hawk, to promote and provide funds for high-quality public skateparks in low-income areas throughout the United States—with an emphasis on the word “quality.” Since then, the Foundation has awarded $3,972,350 to 493 communities. The Foundation focuses on working with local officials and grassroots, community-based organizations that plan to hire designers and contractors with strong experience designing and building skateparks. The Tony Hawk Foundation was established by a gift from Tony Hawk. Its directors raise additional funds through events, industry donations, and continuing contributions from Tony and other entities. In addition to skateparks, the Foundation also makes donations to other children- related charities, as chosen by its Board Of Directors. For more information or to make a donation, visit the Foundation’s Web site at
www.tonyhawkfoundation.org.