Jolly Creek Holiday Festival & Marketplace Debuts Later This Month

Just like the rest of 2020, the holidays are going to look a little different this year. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of festive family fun throughout Central Florida! One new event, specifically designed for pandemic precautions and presented by the creators of Scream N’ Stream, is called Jolly Creek Holiday Festival & Marketplace!

Jolly Creek is an outdoor, socially-distanced Winter Wonderland with various activities, delicious food, festive drinks, and, of course, the opportunity to meet Santa himself. Let’s take a look at all the excitement this event has to offer: ​

Jolly Creek Activities and Attractions

Jolly Creek is divided into two major areas: the Holiday Festival and the Holiday Marketplace. 

Holiday Marketplace

The Holiday Marketplace is a special opportunity for local artists, craftsmen, and entrepreneurs to show off their products, build their brands, and connect with the community. On any given night, you might find a variety of crafts, artistry, homemade goods, snacks, and other unique food items represented. The exact vendors and businesses participating may change throughout the run, or even on a nightly basis. If you would like to become a vendor for the Holiday Market, please fill out an application. There is a nominal vendor fee of $35 per evening.

Holiday Festival

The majority of Jolly Creek’s activities and attractions are located in the Holiday Festival.

Entertainment 

As longtime Central Florida residents, the creators of Jolly Creek are devastated by the effects of COVID-19 on the Orlando area. From the beginning, they have set out to provide jobs, opportunities, and professional exposure to talented artists and professionals that were furloughed or laid off from the local attractions. In keeping with this theme, Jolly Creek will feature some familiar and locally beloved entertainment for its event.

Jolly Creek to Provide Pandemic-Friendly Holiday Fun Starting This Weekend!

Each evening, guests will have the opportunity to hear The Jolly Creek Society Orchestra (formerly The Grand Floridian Society Orchestra) playing classic holiday favorites with a jazzy twist. On Gold (peak) Nights, an additional a cappella group, The Mistletones, will sing contemporary accompaniment for your wondrous night. In case you don’t know, this group is responsible for some iconic Orlando theme park entertainment, such as the Frog Choir at Islands of Adventure.

​Thousands of Holiday Lights

Arguably one of the most anticipated parts of any holiday event are the LIGHTS! Jolly Creek will partner with Jingle Bell Lights, a holiday and landscape lighting design company and major provider of local residential and commercial displays. Thousands of lights will adorn the festival area of the event! We don’t know exactly what these displays will look like, but you can explore some of Jingle Bell Lights’ previous displays here.

Florida Snow! 

Throughout the evening, guests might find themselves in a Florida snowfall! I’m sure each occurrence will be accompanied by the appropriate holiday music, and who can resist a White Christmas (even if it’s only for a moment)!

Santa Claus Meet and Greet

If you had the opportunity to meet the Fog Queen during last month’s Scream N’ Stream, you know exactly where Santa Claus will greet families during the Jolly Creek Festival. Santa will be onstage with a microphone, ready to pose for selfies and make some magic!

Specialty Food and Beverage 

While there won’t be any food or drink included in your ticket price, there will be plenty of holiday-themed selections available for purchase. Food options will include the beloved Holiday Sandwich! If you’ve never had one, imagine you made a lunch out of Thanksgiving leftovers and put it between two slices of bread. Pretty much any variation of this tradition is delicious! Drinks will include a variety of holiday options, including Cinnamon Coke and Winter-Spiced Sprite. (Depending on the evening’s selections, you might be able to find additional options with the vendors at the Holiday Marketplace.  An example might be Lake Mary’s The Tipsy Cookie!)

Crafts With Santa’s Helpers

As an add-on experience, guests can create their own holiday items; such as nutcrackers, ornaments, and snow globes. Craft kits are sold in complete sets with everything you’ll need to create and personalize your project. If your artistic talents leave a bit more to be desired, Santa’s friendly helpers will be there to assist. Kits start at $5 per craft. Exact pricing will vary depending on the chosen item.

Outdoor Games Area

On the shores of Lake Toho, Guests can play oversized outdoor games such as Jenga and Connect 4. This area will also feature a large fire pit with Adirondack chairs for socially-distanced chats and connections. (There may even be a few peppermint s’mores involved!)

Ticket Information

Single Night Tickets

​Date-Specific Tickets for Jolly Creek are divided into two categories: Silver and Gold. Silver (or non-peak) tickets occur earlier in the season (with the exception of Thanksgiving weekend). They start at $22 per night for each adult. Gold (peak) tickets are later in the season (closer to Christmas and New Year’s) and start at $30 per adult. ​

When purchasing a Date-Specific option, you will be asked to choose an arrival time. This is only to manage crowd control at the gate. Once inside, guests can remain for the duration of the event.

Multi-Night or Flex Tickets

If you know you want to experience Jolly Creek but aren’t sure which date to visit, consider a Flex Ticket. It costs a bit more than a Date-Specific ticket but provides the flexibility to change your mind. Flex Tickets start at $39 per night for an adult. Once purchased, they don’t require a time slot reservation to redeem. You can just show up when you’re ready.

You can also buy a Season’s Greetings Pass, allowing you to enjoy the event multiple times on the same ticket. Passes are $135 for each adult, and $129 for children. No advance time slot reservations are necessary to use your Season’s Greetings Pass.

Both the Flex Ticket and the Season’s Greetings Pass are subject to blockout dates. These dates are:  Nov 26, 27, Dec 24, 25, 31, and Jan 1. You can buy Single Night Tickets at the door at a higher rate. I definitely recommend buying yours in advance if possible.

New Year’s Eve Party 

Jolly Creek will also offer a special, hard-ticket event on New Year’s Eve! Details for the party are still being confirmed. We do know, however, that this ticket will include at least some food and drink – including a special champagne toast at midnight. Tickets start at $129 for adults and can be purchased on the company’s website.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida

​Just like the creators’ previous event, Scream N’ Stream, a portion of Jolly Creek’s proceeds will be donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. Guests may also add a direct donation to the price of their ticket.

Jolly Creek Starts November 20! 

I can’t wait to experience all of the festive, holiday cheer at this brand new event. If you have your eye on a certain ticket type, make sure to buy them online as soon as possible. The event may sell out, and don’t forget your face mask!