Central Park Bandshell Transformed For Winter Jam Event

CENTRAL PARK, NY — The city Parks Department has spent the past few days blowing snow in Central Park create an artificial winter wonderland ahead of the park's annual Winter Jam celebration.

There's no snow in the forecast for Saturday, but New Yorkers will be sledding and snowshoeing while sipping on hot chocolate in the Central Park Bandshell. Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the annual event, which was almost put into jeopardy by this week's erratic weather.

"With volatile spikes and dips in temperature and driving rain, reaching just the right conditions to create snow for Winter Jam, NYC Parks’ beloved annual event, was tricky. But. We have snow!" a Parks Department statement reads.

New activities such as a puppy bowl zone presented by Animal Planet, a bobsled photo booth, an ice sculpture garden with four artworks and puppet making have been added to this year's event. Old favorites such as ski and snowboard lessons, curling and snow dodge ball will also be offered.

Winter Jam will begin at 11 a.m. and is expected to run until 3 p.m., according to the Parks Department. The department estimates that thousands of people will participate in this year's event and that past years have drawn as many as 25,000.

Here's a full list of activities offered during this year's Winter Jam:

• Animal Planet Puppy Bowl Zone
• Bobsled Photo Booth
• Ice Sculpture Garden—featuring four ice sculptures
• Puppet Making
• Live Ice Sculpting Exhibition – Noon to 2 p.m.
• Learn to Ski
• Sledding
• Curling
• Ice Bowling
• Flag Football
• Dodge Ball
• REI
  
  • Snowshoeing
  • Snow shovel sled “race” – for the kiddies
• NYC Parks Urban Park Rangers Sachet Making
• NYC Parks Alley Pond Adventure Course Activities
  
  • Geo Crossing Activity (team building activity)
• Winter Food Market
  
  • Guests can warmup under heat lamps in Adirondack chairs and try samples!
  • Guests can purchase select food items from upstate NY vendors!
• Food Trucks

Photo courtesy of the Parks Department