Candlelight & Ice: A bright light for the community 

Candlelight & Ice: A bright light for the community 

 

Richfield, Minn. (December 14, 2023) Residents and visitors are invited to Candlelight and Ice, a beloved community tradition at Richfield’s Wood Lake Nature Center. Attendees can enjoy a New Year’s Eve luminary walk, snow art, games, a storybook trail, food truck and more.

This popular event draws upward of 2,000 residents to enjoy the park on December 31. Attendees are advised that this year tickets will only be available ahead of time. No tickets will be available for sale at the door on the day of the event. 

This family-friendly event features a short storybook trail in addition to a longer candlelit luminary walk around the park. For the classic Candlelight & Ice experience, participants will follow the longer luminary walk around the grounds, enjoying the quiet of the night and a warming fire at the midway point. 

For those looking to extend their New Year’s Eve fun beyond the luminary walk, the event also includes activities both inside the nature center and outdoors. Indoor­­­ activities will include a hot cocoa station, s’more making station around the fireplace, arts and crafts and a wishing station for New Year’s Eve wishes. The outdoor activity area will include a bonfire and s’more station, a snow and ice sculpture station and conservation-themed games. A local favorite, food truck Soul to Soul BBQ, will be on-site serving soul food for the event.  

“We hope that visitors of all ages will enjoy a stress-free entry into the new year by taking a luminary-lit hike at Wood Lake, warming up by a fire, and enjoying the outdoors at night,” noted Paul Smithson, facility manager of the Wood Lake Nature Center.

Candlelight & Ice will be held on December 31, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Wood Lake Nature Center, (6710 Lake Shore Drive S). Carpooling is encouraged and event parking will be available along parts of Lyndale Avenue, Lake Shore Drive, City Bella, as well as in Wood Lake Nature Center’s parking lot. Reserve your tickets for Candlelight & Ice at woodlakenaturecenter.org. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets are $6 each, and free for Friends of Wood Lake members. Doors open at 5 p.m. Event organizers recommend arriving by 8:15 p.m. to allow for adequate time to enjoy the activities.

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