Volume 2, No. 1. January 11, 2002
Ahead of its time
If yours is a land of make-believe,
you can make up just about anything—even the time of day. LEGOLAND California
in Carlsbad located itself in LEGOLAND Standard Time for New Year's Eve, a time
zone equivalent to Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, six hours ahead of the park's surrounding
neighborhoods.
So, midnight struck on the Fun Town Square Clock Tower when it was 6 p.m. elsewhere
in California, allowing LEGOLAND's chief demographic, children ages 2 to 12,
to ring in the New Year with wild celebration rather than sound sleep. This
was the park's third year hosting an "early" Kids' New Year's Eve party, with
attendance this year nearly doubling that of last year, said Kina Paegert, senior
communications specialist at the park, though she would not reveal the final
number. The party also attracted three local television crews.
For the kids, it was like being in Times Square with Dick Clark. Starting at
4:30 p.m. (16,30) and centered on the park's Fun Town section, the party featured
LEGOLAND's regular entertainment corps performing on stage in a continuous show
and mingling among the celebrants. A roving video camera broadcast kids on a
big screen television perched atop one of the buildings. Children could see
themselves dancing on the giant video and telling an interviewer their New Year's
resolutions, which ran from "being nicer to my big sister" to "playing with
my LEGOs more." Armed with noise makers and party hats, the gathering counted
down to midnight when a giant LEGO brick dropped igniting a 15-minute fireworks
display choreographed to a mix of popular and oldies dance music.
With 2002 now arrived, the patrons dispersed, LEGOLAND closed to the public
and readied itself for a private fund-raiser party, featuring dance music, party
favors and yet another brick drop and fireworks show at midnight.
That's midnight, Pacific Standard Time.