Global Winter Wonderland November 25, 2011

Want to see the world without leaving California? Then take a journey to the San Francisco Bay Area for the Global Winter Wonderland (www.globalwonderland.org). Making its historic United States debut, this family-friendly festival of lights lets you travel the world in just one day.

From November 25 - January 2, gigantic illuminated lanterns depicting the world's greatest architectural achievements such as the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, Chichen Itza, and the Golden Gate Bridge, will light up the sky from the parking lot at California's Great America in Santa Clara. Some of these structures are more than 50 feet tall and nearly 100 feet wide. In addition to iconic landmarks, the festival will showcase other amazing lanterns in the Holiday Village and Chinatown exhibit. More than 40 in all, these eco-friendly lanterns, made from beverage cans, bottle caps, CDs, porcelain dishes and metal flatware, were designed by the same team of engineers who built lanterns for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing.

Covering more than nine acres, the Festival will also feature a dinosaur maze, carnival games, international cuisine, arts and crafts, live entertainment, and celebrations of holiday traditions from around the world. There's truly something for everyone. It promises to be the family event of the holiday season. Created by the International Culture Exchange Group (ICEG), the Global Winter Wonderland offers a fun and entertaining opportunity for guests to experience the rich cultures of the world, right here in California.

"I wanted to bring the best of the world to families right here in the Bay Area," said Lulu Huang, President of International Culture Exchange Group, the organization producing the event. "When people learn about each others' cultures, and more importantly are invited to share in those cultures, real international understanding takes place."

Education through entertainment is an important part of the Global Winter Wonderland experience. Visitors will learn about holiday traditions of various cultures and how these celebrations differ as well as how they are similar.

"This truly is a global village," says Huang.

The centerpiece of the Global Winter Wonderland is a 33-foot-tall Christmas Tree Lantern. The tree and all the lanterns will be lit in a special ceremony on opening day, Friday, November 25, the day after Thanksgiving. Tickets can be ordered online at www.globalwonderland.org or by phone 1 (888) 768-7469.

Global Winter Wonderland is located in the Parking Lot of Santa Clara's Great America, 4701 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA, November 25 - January 2, 2012. Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Adults $12; Children (5-12) and Seniors (62+), $10; Children 4 & under Free. www.globalwonderland.org