Going Places with Dina Guzzardo
Now that Halloween is officially over, it is time to start thinking about Christmas. Some may say it is too early and that we have not even had Thanksgiving yet, but there is nothing wrong with spreading Christmas cheer a little early! The Showboat Hotel is leading the celebrations this year, with much of their Christmas décor already up.
Upon entering the main entrance, you will be greeted by an impressive display of Christmas wreaths hanging on the hedge wall in the hotel lobby, with garlands embellishing each panel. Not one, but two enormous Christmas trees situated in the lobby. As you walk down the corridor towards Lucky Snake Arcade, you will pass many other festive decorations including a Santa area at the midway point, with two additional trees decorated in a candyland theme. Once you reach the atrium, you will be welcomed through a spectacular archway by two 8-foot nutcrackers and an archway swagged with luxurious red fabric and two huge wreaths. There are extra hints of Christmas throughout the building which will surely put you in the Christmas spirit.
However, The Showboat has decided to go a step further this year, purchasing a giant 50 foot Christmas Tree which will be decorated in the coming weeks and culminating in an official lighting ceremony on Nov. 29, beginning at 3 pm, with the lighting ceremony taking place at 5:30 pm. The tree will be the biggest live tree that Atlantic City has ever seen and is approximately the height of five houses.
The tree will boast an impressive 20,000 lights, making it one of the focal points of the Atlantic City Boardwalk over the holiday season. It is conveniently located on the boardwalk right in front of The Showboat, and you will be able to see it from some distance away once the 20,000 lights are lit. It will feel as though you have been transported to a Christmas Wonderland.
On the night of the official lighting, there will also be vendors selling Christmas nick-nacks to get some Christmas shopping in. There will also be live entertainment throughout the night, a gingerbread house decorating competition and candy cane decorating contest which are great opportunities for kids to show their creative side. There will be pop up bars and delicious food on the night provided by the in-house food and beverage team, so be prepared for some insanely tasty treats including free hot apple cider. Several giveaways will take place with chances to win some amazing prizes. The entire event is being referred to as The Holiday Extravaganza at Showboat, and will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest holiday events in Atlantic City.
The fun does not stop after the 29th however, with vendors coming each weekend beginning December 3rd to provide you with ample opportunities. Santa will be making a series of special appearances throughout the holiday season beginning on the tree lighting event night and continuing every weekend up until Christmas.
Dina Productions Group are also behind the entire event on the 29th and will be coordinating a series of other exciting holiday events at The Showboat. I feel incredibly honored to be selected to produce such a prestigious event. Being the first tree of this size on the Atlantic City Boardwalk is historical and will no doubt become a landmark of the Christmas season in the coming years. I could not of course do this without my fantastic team who have worked tirelessly over the past weeks to bring my vision for this event to life. This is going to be a fantastic event with so much going on. It is something that can be enjoyed by both kids and adults.
Parking will be available in the casino for a small fee; however, the entire event is free to attend. You can even make your way inside afterwards to play some games at the infamous Lucky Snake arcade, equipped with hundreds of child-friendly games, an indoor go-kart race track, a new rock climbing wall, and mini golf. There is going to be a host of activities going on throughout the run up to Christmas, making The Showboat the place to be when you want to get that festive feeling.
Dina Guzzardo is the Owner and Creative Director of Dina Productions Group. Dina Productions Group is an innovative event design and execution company that designs and executes all types of corporate and private parties and events. Obsessing over every detail is the reason why DPG is one of the most sought out event production companies in our area. For more information visit www.dinaproductionsgroup.com
