Santa and Mrs. Claus’ snow globe that started during the pandemic and allowed children to talk to Santa in a safe and healthy way.
Kami Whisenhunt|Marlin Chronicle
The Christmas season is here and Town Center Fountain Plaza of Virginia Beach is kicking it off by hosting the annual Snow Globe Spectacular. Large, snow globes are filled with artistic scenes and performers at Town Center for the community to view and interact with.
This event is held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of December up until the 23rd, and it’s all about developing the local businesses of the Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach area, along with promoting the Christmas spirit.
The Central Business District Association (CBDA) has produced the Snow Globe Spectacular every year since 2019. According to their website, businesses and organizations can pay dues to become members of the CBDA, and by joining are provided with opportunities to build relationships and grow awareness for the business community.
Alex Liverman, director of the CBDA and the Snow Globe Spectacular, wants to fulfill the association’s mission through this event.
“As the Executive Director of the Central Business District Association, our mission and vision is the growth of Town Center and beyond as the “Uptown” of Virginia Beach. This original 5 block radius has grown and continues to grow because of its successful and carefully selected businesses, retailers, restaurants and safe environment for all to enjoy,” Liverman said.
Three businesses that are a part of this association and specifically involved in helping present the Snow Globe Spectacular are the City of Virginia Beach, the Town Center of Virginia Beach and Armada Hoffler, which is a self-managed real estate investment trust.
The Snow globe Spectacular features large plastic snow globe displays filled with artistic scenery custom-designed by Studio Cultivate, as mentioned on CBDA’s Facebook page. These can be found on the outskirts of the Town Center Fountain Plaza and in front of storefronts.
“All of our events are free, family friendly and are paid for by the tenants and businesses in Town Center for your enjoyment,” Liverman said.
Each snow globe is filled with a themed scene, the majority being Christmas scenes. In particular, one enclosed a setting of a gingerbread house patterned truck surrounded by Christmas trees driving through the snow. Freshman Haley Wise attended this event and appreciated each of the snow globe’s individuality.
Two festive snow globes at the Snow Globe Spectacular showcasing a woodland creature winter wonderland and a fun gingerbread car.
Kami Whisenhunt|Marlin Chronicle
“They are very interesting to look at. They’re very particular in their art. Each snow globe tells a different kind of story, and they have their own little narrative in them,” Wise said. “My favorite was probably the one with the lighthouse and snowy beach scene in it because I like that it represents this area,” Wise said.
The most interactive part of this event though includes the inflatable snow globes that have live Christmas-themed performers inside, located within the Town Center Fountain Plaza, with performances happening from 7-9 pm each weekend of the event.
The acts can include singers, dancing elves, princesses, and tap dancers. This aspect adds a lively dimension to the Snow globe Spectacular because not only are people gathering to view the still art displays, but they can be entertained through the live arts of dance and performance.
The most popular snow globe people visit contains live Santa and Mrs.Claus featured in a North Pole setting. This idea originated because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We began looking for a large Snow globe big enough for Santa so the children could still talk to him in a safe environment. The children speak into a microphone from the outside and they love it. The local media picked up on it due to its uniqueness, and we decided to keep the concept,” Liverman said.
Viewing Santa in a snow globe provides a way to get families involved, specifically children, and a new way to experience some Christmas magic.
Surrounding the snow globes, there are different Christmas light attractions for people to gaze at or use as photo-worthy backdrops. There is a large ornament covered in string lights with a tunnel underneath for people to walk through or take pictures beneath.
Two friends and visitors of the Snow Globe Spectacular, Lila and Sophia, love to see the smiles on people’s faces while in the Christmas atmosphere.
“We really enjoy being able to take photos and seeing the cheery Christmas lights,” Sophia said.
There is a sleigh to sit in being pulled by a light-up reindeer, a large light-outlined picture frame and a Christmas tree stringed with lights that will dance along to familiar Christmas songs and carols. The CBDA is creating something the community looks forward to each year.
“Yes, we have been here before, we have both lived here since we were little so we just kind of knew about it, it’s become a tradition every Christmas,” Lila said.
The Snow Globe Spectacular is put on during a time of year when people love to celebrate, creating a fun themed activity where the sound of music and visuals of lights draw attention to the main area of Town Center.
People become surrounded by the shops, restaurants and other businesses that line the streets, making way for the CBDA and specific members to put on this event that is spreading Christmas cheer as a way to continue the growth and development of the business community in Virginia Beach.
By Kami Whisenhunt