Westfarms will celebrate the holidays in 2015 with the ‘Peanuts Gang,’ with the holiday attraction launching the same day as the movie opens.

By Ronni Newton

Visitors to Westfarms this holiday season will once again have a chance to enjoy the exclusive Ice Palace experience, which this year brings to life the characters of 20^th Century Fox’s “The Peanuts Movie.” The movie and the Ice Palace both open on Nov. 6, 2015, and Santa arrives at Westfarms that day, too.

“Each year we partner with a movie to bring an exciting family-friendly experience to the community,” said Westfarms spokesperson Amanda Sirica.

This is the sixth year that Westfarms has featured the Ice Palace during the holiday season, and each year the shopping center partners with a different movie to create an interactive display to entertain children and families.

“Peanuts is an iconic classic, it’s recognized worldwide,” Sirica said. The movie has a winter theme, which is a natural complement to the Ice Palace, she said. The storyline, featuring one of the world’s most beloved and best known underdogs, Charlie Brown, is also appropriate for the holiday season.

“Each year Westfarms amazes and delights families with our spectacular holiday display and its magical snowfall inside the Ice Palace,” Westfarms General Manager Kevin Keenan said in a news release. “We are committed to bringing our shoppers another interactive experience this year and are certain the Peanuts gang will bring joy and laughter to families who visit.”

Santa Claus, of course, has a major role in the holiday experience at Westfarms. He will visit with children each day through Christmas Eve, posing for photos, and visitors to Santa will receive a complimentary gift.

“The Ice Palace is for everyone,” Sirica said, even those who don’t celebrate Christmas. There is a secondary photo opportunity space – a life-size graphic of Snoopy and his dog house – as part of the display.

The 30-foot Ice Palace dome includes falling snow and a light show, as well as a trailer from The Peanuts Movie. Kids can also leave a handprint in the “ice,” and compare it to Snoopy’s and Woodstock’s prints.

“When Santa arrives, we officially kick off the holiday season at Westfarms,” Sirica said. She said that Westfarms is at full capacity this season, and new stores include Lululemon and NorthFace.

The Peanuts Ice Palace, located in Westfarms Center Court, will be open November 6 through December 24 from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday and extended hours on select days in December.

For more information visit www.shopwestfarms.com.

ABOUT THE PEANUTS MOVIE

In THE PEANUTS MOVIE, Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus and the rest of the beloved “Peanuts” Gang make their big-screen debut, like they’ve never been seen before, in state of the art 3D animation. Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog, embarks upon an epic and heroic quest, while his best pal, the lovable beagle Snoopy, takes to the skies to pursue his arch-nemesis, the Red Baron. From the imagination of Charles M. Schulz and the creators of the ICE AGE films, THE PEANUTS MOVIE will prove that every underdog has his day. The film opens in theaters everywhere November 6, 2015. www.peanutsmovie.com

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