The positive publicity generated when Christmas in Candyland caught the attention of national magazines is already paying off.
In November, Country Living magazine ranked Andalusia and Candyland among the Top 30 places in the nation for Christmas. It was something Southern Living knew last year, and Atlanta Magazine featured the venue last week.
And on opening weekend, Candyland had visitors from as far away as Missouri.
Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chrissie Duffy said the family had heard about the venue and drove two hours out of the way to see what Christmas in Candyland was all about.
“They were very complimentary,” she said.
And that was the general consensus for opening weekend.
“We had a great opening day with the Andalusia City Schools students who came on Friday,” she said. “We had kind of poor weather on Saturday, but we stayed open as much as we could, and had people who came. Sunday, we had great crowds all day.
There was even a celebrity chicken among the visitors.
Sammi Chicken is an Instagram sensation who lives on the Gulf Coast and has been featured on the Today Show. However, before Sunday, he had only been through Alabama.
On Monday, half of the students in the APPLE after school program traveled to Candyland.
Duffy said it’s virtually impossible to be unhappy in Candyland.
Related story: Events like Candyland can help with seasonal depression
“You cannot not be happy,” she said. “Whether you are watching little ones play in the cottages, or people walking up to have their picture taken in the ornament, people are having fun, and that’s infectious.”
The Court Square playhouses will be open from 10 a.m. until noon on Wednesday.
Springdale on Ice will be open 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Thursday, and both venues will be open Friday night, and this weekend.