Los Angeles has a lot of things to offer, but a winter wonderland just isn't one of them. That's why two friends, RJ Hurley and Joe Martin, are creating a 9-acre snow tubing park, with hot chocolate, singing snowmen, and all the saccharine Yuletide bliss you could hope for. RJ Hurley and Joe Martin grew up with snow. Hurley, whose background is in television, is from Denver. Martin, who owns an events company, is from Buffalo. The pair longed for the snowy holiday seasons of their youth, so they decided to make it happen, Martin tells LAist.
Snow Day L.A. runs from November 17 through December 23 at Montecillo De Leo Politi Park in Elysian Park, near downtown. It features eight lanes of snow tubing along PowderPak snow. This is a synthetic, snow-like material that Martin described as similar to a carpet. It's used by ski hills when there isn't enough snow, and should replicate the same rush of gliding down actual snow.
"We couldn't bring in mounds of snow because of the drought," Martin explains.
In addition to the PowderPak on the ground, there will be a 'blizzard' every hour where snow falls from above, similar to the way it does at The Grove. An added bonus of still being in Los Angeles is that temps don't have to be below freezing for this to occur.
"We're trying to create that nostalgic feeling of going to a ski or sledding hill with your family in the wintertime and having that cup of hot chocolate or cider, and having that friends and family moment," Martin says.
A forest full of 200 light-up snowman will burst into song at various points throughout the event, and there will be plenty of photo opportunities, including one inside a giant snow globe. Attendees can purchase food and beverages via one of several trucks curated by Street Food Cinema. VIP tickets will allow guests to access the Penguin Lounge, which will serve alcohol. Those guests will also receive a penguin onesie, which we suppose could be very useful on chilly nights with Netflix.
Though the pair had initially tried to hold the event at the Greek, it didn't work out due to neighborhood concerns. Martin says Montecillo de Leo Politi Park in Elysian Park , which was suggested to them by L.A.'s Recreation and Parks Department, has worked out better than they'd imagined. The hilly park offers beautiful views from any point, and Martin is hoping that if all goes well, Snow Day will become a winter tradition in L.A. And, he notes, it's cheaper than taking the family to Big Bear.
Snow Day Los Angeles runs November 17-December 23 at Montecillo de Leo Politi Park in Elysian Park. Tickets are $24-45 for adults, $8-15 for children. Those who just want to check it out without doing any snow tubing can get in for $12.
