By 2023 standards, Children’s Wonderland is a vintage attraction that has changed little since its modest debut in 1963 when it was set up under the bleachers at the old Mud Hens stadium at the Lucas County Rec Center.
But according to Mike McMahon, executive director of Sylvania Recreation District, the walk-through exhibit still holds a special place in the hearts of Toledoans.
“Children’s Wonderland is one of the longest holiday traditions in Northwest Ohio and it began more than 50 years ago,” said McMahon. “It is a walk-through interactive exhibit with quintessential holiday settings of holiday classic scenes that people come back for year after year.”
The exhibit is now set up annually at Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter, located at 7060 W. Sylvania. Children’s Wonderland opens Friday at 11 a.m. and runs through Christmas Eve.
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IF YOU GO
What: Children’s Wonderland
WHEN: Dec. 8 - Dec. 23 (11 a.m. - 8 p.m.); Dec. 24 (11 a.m. - 2 p.m.)
WHERE: Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter, 7060 W. Sylvania Ave.
ADMISSION: Kids 2+ $7 / Adults 18+ $9 / Seniors 65+ $7
INFORMATION: playsylvania.com/childrens-wonderland
“This year’s Children’s Wonderland is similar to previous years, but we always try to make some new additions and change things up a bit to keep it fresh,” said McMahon.
Construction of the multi-piece winter/holiday exhibit takes about two weeks and there are several special events set up throughout the monthlong display. Special events this year include an opportunity to enjoy doughnuts with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Dec. 10 and 17, and story time with Mrs. Claus on Dec. 16. Reservations for all special events are required and can be made online at playsylvania.com/childrens-wonderland.
“In addition to our special events, we have pictures with Santa that are available any time we’re open,” said McMahon. “There will also be a model train display Dec. 8-10 and we have a coloring contest that gets hundreds of submissions.”
The coloring sheets for the coloring contest can be downloaded at the Children’s Wonderland website.
Children’s Wonderland moved from the Lucas County Rec Center to Sylvania Tam-O-Shanter in 2011, according to McMahon.
Lucas County Commissioner Tina Skeldon Wozniak praised Sylvania Recreation District for restoring Children’s Wonderland to its one-time splendor.
“Sylvania Recreation are terrific recreational leaders and they were the perfect group to take it over, not only for their desire to do it but their willingness to build those little sets back to full operational use,” said Commissioner Skeldon-Wozniak.
Back in her teen years, Commissioner Skeldon-Wozniak worked at Children’s Wonderland for several seasons.
“When I worked there, I had to make sure that people didn’t get overexcited and jump into the displays,” said the commissioner. “The little creatures and people in the displays were very fragile. It certainly wasn’t state of the art technology and never has been, but they’re cute and you had to be very gentle with them, as the volunteers found out when they moved them from the Rec Center to Tam-O-Shanter. They had to work really hard to put those pieces back together.”
Commissioner Skeldon-Wozniak said the enduring legacy of Children’s Wonderland underscores the importance of tradition to Toledo families.
“We pride ourselves in Toledo that if something was built with quality and family interest in mind that you don’t want to let those things go,” said Commissioner Skeldon-Wozniak. “Every community finds its ways to have its traditions, much like families do and (Children’s Wonderland) is a traditional place to go, particularly when grandparents get their opportunity to take their grandkids, because its something they did when they were young.”
McMahon said the wonderful thing about Children’s Wonderland is the way it brings different generations together.
“These days, we are seeing more and more families that have multiple generations coming through,” said McMahon. “We have grandparents bringing their grandkids. It’s a step back in time to a very traditional holiday exhibit. When you walk into (Children’s Wonderland) there’s just something about it that people love and appreciate more than half a century after it began.”
First Published December 7, 2023, 5:00am