Media Relations
Sydney O’Drobinak
Office: 409-683-4209
Cell: 409-370-4585
news@moodygardens.com
Jerri Hamachek
Office: 409-683-4249
Cell: 409-789-2607
jhamachek@moodygardens.com
MOODY GARDENS BECOMES THE COOLEST HOLIDAY DESTINATION IN THE
SOUTHWEST WITH NEW ICE SCULPTURES EVENT FEATURING SPONGEBOB
SQUAREPANTS
GALVESTON, Texas – Moody Gardens will transform into the premier holiday destination with the debut
of ICE LAND: Ice Sculptures featuring Christmas with SpongeBob SquarePants on November 15. Being
the only holiday ice exhibition on the Gulf Coast, this vast and amazing display of magnificent ice
creations will add a frosty new addition to the Festival of Lights and other holiday attractions this year.
A skilled team of 20 professional ice carvers from Harbin, China will take 900 tons of ice and transform
them into majestic marvels ranging from holiday-themed sculptures to a wide range of scenes featuring
the beloved underwater characters from SpongeBob SquarePants.
Chilled and held at a temperature of 9 degrees, you can witness these works of art within a 28,000 sq. ft.
insulated tent structure located on the property. This holiday treat for the whole family will be open
through January 4 as Galveston makes its holiday transition into a Winter Wonder Island.
“We are very excited to bring such a unique experience to south Texas,” said John Zendt, Moody
Gardens President and CEO, who added that carving giant ice sculpture scenes and holding them at 9
degrees outside on a sub-tropical island is a significant logistical challenge. “Our guests are in for a
special surprise. There is no other venue in the Southwest that offers such a diverse range of activities
and amenities for a complete holiday experience.”
Admission to the exhibition is $26.95 for adults, $21.95 for seniors and $15.95 for children. For a list of
peak, non-peak and group blackout dates, please click here.
Once you return your courtesy parkas from ICE LAND, you can enjoy Moody Gardens 13th annual Festival
of Lights packed with holiday magic. Beginning November 15 through January 3, start a tradition with
the largest holiday lighting event on the Gulf Coast with more than one million lights, the area’s only
outdoor skating rink and the thrilling Arctic Ice Slide.
Admission to the Festival of Lights is $8.95. With the purchase of a Festival of Lights ticket, tickets to the
Aquarium Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid, Discovery Pyramid, holiday MG 3D film, holiday 4D Film, Artic
Ice Slide and Colonel Paddlewheel Boat can be purchased for only $7 each. Ice skates are available to
rent for $7 or guests can bring their own. Special holiday packages are also available at the Moody
Gardens Hotel, including the Christmas Dinner and Show with Master Illusionist Curt Miller Dec. 18-17.
For more information, please call 800-582-4673 or visit moodygardens.org.
Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of
rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.
###