“Glacial” Garden Exhibit Highlights Holiday Festivities At The Morton Arboretum

Fun Adventures In Nature For The Whole Family

LISLE, IL (November 8, 2006) – Seems like the hottest new thing for kids this holiday season will also be the coolest.

In the new Children’s Garden at The Morton Arboretum, kids will get to hide out, play in, and just generally enjoy a completely unique, new exhibit: a “log cabin” made entirely of ice!  The cabin is one of the engaging, exciting activities among trees and nature in the Arboretum’s 2006 Holiday Celebration, from November 24 through January 7.

“We’ve got a brand new Theatre-Hike plus a new Madrigal Dinner theater performance, to go along with the traditional favorites. And the ice cabin will make this season especially memorable,” says Marilyn Baysek, Arboretum Special Events Manager.

The ten-foot-by-ten-foot ice “log cabin,” scheduled to debut on December 27, will feature “front” and “back” doors, windows with shutters, and even a fireplace with special lights in the base, simulating a fire. Professionals from Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures will carve “logs” from 300-pound ice blocks and carefully stack them to create the open-roof “cabin.” Walls will range from 40-inches to 60-inches high.

“Kids are going to love it, they’ll use their imaginations and pretend it’s a fort,” says Nadeau owner Jim Nadeau. “Besides, people love ice, they’re just mesmerized by it,” Nadeau says.

The elaborate, charming “Holiday Trains” exhibit will have a new track layout, with passenger and freight trains that are lighted, and locomotives equipped with sound. Listen carefully and you’ll hear “conductors” on the European models yell “all aboard!” in German or Italian. A ski lift will take skiers up to the North Pole, where Santa zips around in his own train. Up to 14 trains will run at once, and operators will run different trains throughout the season – meaning repeat visitors may see a different “show.” Trains “run” November 26, then Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays in December and daily from December 26 through January 5, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Theater lovers won’t want to miss either of two shows.

First: a new, December Theatre-Hike: “The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus” about the young Claus growing up amid woodland creatures, deciding to bring joy to children by making and distributing toys. Tickets are $15 ($12 for Arboretum members); call 630-725-2066 or visit www.mortonarb.org for tickets. Suitable for all ages. Dress for the weather; hiking will be over some off-trail areas. Saturdays and Sundays through December 17: 1 – 3 p.m.

Also, come to the Queen’s Court for “Winter’s Feast: The Play’s The Thing,” a lighthearted Madrigal Dinner theater performance. Set in the 1700s, we enjoy music, dance and royal feasting, and meet a budding playwright, William Shakespeare, who helps a young bridegroom create an anniversary gift for his bride. But along the way, they must thwart the bride’s jilted lover and his evil intentions. Shows are November 26, December 3, 10 and 17: 6 - 9 p.m. Tickets are $60 each ($50 for Arboretum members). Cash bar. Call 630/725-2066

The Visitor Center is transformed into a giant, dazzling display case thanks to area designers competing to create the most dazzling, glistening holiday tree. “Where Treetops Glisten” is an exhibit of their finest works. On December 31, the Arboretum raffles off the trees (Raffle tickets $10), which then remain on display through January 7.

Get your requests in, and see what gets turned out – in ice! Marvel at the Nadeau ice sculptors who create individual “creatures” from 300-pound blocks of ice, taking suggestions from the audience. Previous creations were elves, Santa, and a holiday tree. Arbor Court, December 3, 10 and 17: 1 – 4 p.m.

“Seasonal Harmonies” singers will help make the holiday bright. The Frozen Robins perform December 3 and 17: 1 – 4 p.m.

The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,700 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission – the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CDT) and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CST). The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (CDT) and 9:30 to 4 p.m. (CST). Visit www.mortonarb.org or call 630/968-0074 to learn more.

Media Contact:    Gina Tedesco, 630-725-2103, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Marty Cusack, 630-719-5768, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it