***EVENT RECAP***EVENT RECAP***EVENT RECAP**
MAGICAL FOREST ILLUMINATES HOLIDAY TREE AND CELEBRATES ARRIVAL OF SANTA CLAUS WITH PAPILLON GRAND CANYON HELICOPTERS
**Photos Available At: https://spaces.hightail.com/space/YCNr9**
LAS VEGAS – The holiday season kicked off at Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest on Friday, Nov. 25. Friends, family and loved ones gathered around the beautifully decorated Forest to celebrate with festivities and fun.
The evening could not begin without the guests of honor, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Children waited anxiously, with eyes peeled to the sky for Santa’s grand arrival, courtesy of Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters. Upon their arrival, Old St. Nick and Mrs. Claus assisted with the annual lighting of the tree.
Santa joined Mayor Carolyn Goodman, the Strip’s famed doo-wop group Human Nature and Lorena Peril of ‘Fantasy’ at the Luxor Las Vegas in the beloved tradition of illuminating the tree. Following carols and merriment, Mayor Carolyn Goodman flipped the switch for the tree and the forest, dazzling all in attendance with the millions of sparkling lights decorating the forest, as well as marking the beginning of the holidays.
In addition to the festively decorated Forest, all enjoyed the Forest Express passenger train and depot, Cheyenne’s Enchanted Carousel, Boris the Elf’s 3D Experience, the all-new Avalanche Slide, Rudolph’s Raceway, Rod’s Mini Golf and the Ethel M Candy Cabin. Children shared their wish lists with Santa, before taking pictures with him and his Elves in the Workshop.
For 25 years, the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village has been Las Vegas’ most cherished, and now the longest running, holiday tradition.
The Magical Forest is open every night from Nov. 19, 2016 through Jan. 1, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., with the exception of Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 24) and Christmas Day (Dec. 25). General admission tickets for adults are $11.99, while children’s tickets are $9.99. Wristbands will be sold for $12 and individual ride tickets for $3. Adult Passports can be purchased for $21.99 and Children’s Passports are available for $18.99. Ticket information will be available at www.MagicalForest.org.
###
ABOUT OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE
Founded in 1954, Opportunity Village is a Las Vegas-based, not-for-profit organization that serves people with intellectual disabilities to improve the quality of their lives and the lives of the families who love them. Opportunity Village is Nevada’s largest employer of people with disabilities serving nearly 3,000 individuals annually through vocational training, employment, habilitation and social recreation programs and services. Primarily a self-funded organization, Opportunity Village generates the majority of its funding through the business of contracts and fundraising efforts such as the Magical Forest and Great Santa Run. For more information, visit www.OpportunityVillage.org.
PRESS CONTACTS
Marty Wood
Opportunity Village
T: 702.234.5322
woodm@opportunityvillage.org
Tamara Rocha / Allie Edwards
R&R Partners for Opportunity Village
Tamara.Rocha@rrpartners.com / Allie.Edwards@rrpartners.com
Marina Nicola / Erika Pope
Vox Solid Communications for Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters