Ocean Park Christmas Sensation 2008

Featuring 200 Christmas Trees, an African safari, 2,000 Teddies and more

(Hong Kong - 12 November 2008) From 13 December 2008 to 4 January 2009, Ocean Park Christmas Sensation 2008 will for the first time ever take guests high and low, North and South through lush pine forests, icy landscapes, African safaris, sky high adventures and then all the way to Santa’s toy factory in the North Pole via all its world-class attractions: Christmas Starlight Forest, Ice Odyssey, Madagascar 2 Live, Touch the Sky and Santa’s Holiday Express.

At the Christmas Starlight Forest, Ocean Park will invite the community to decorate 200 Christmas trees using environmentally-friendly materials, and in four unique themes: “cyber”, “romance”, “conservation” and “around the world”. To top it off, between 13 to 27 December, guests will be invited to vote for The Best Tree in Town* and make a donation of HK$10 or more to the Sichuan Earthquake Relief – Giant Panda Base Rebuilding Fund operated by Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong (OPCFHK). This will entitle them to enter a lucky draw and win an Ocean Park SmartFun annual pass, with an added bonus, a Dolphin Encounter programme!

"Christmas is all about fun and love," said Dr. Allan Zeman, Chairman of Ocean Park. “This year, we’re inviting the community, including schools, universities, 18 districts and international business chambers to participate in the meaningful Christmas Tree Decorating Activity. My Christmas wish is that everyone will come here and cast their votes for their favourite Christmas tree and spread the Ocean Park Christmas spirit, as well as help to rebuild Panda facilities and nature reserves devastated by the Sichuan earthquake."

Ocean Park’s all-time signature ice skating favourite will feature a brand-new entourage. Ice Odyssey is produced by Jeb Rand, renowned ice skater and show producer from Las Vegas, showing off over 20 celebrated skaters and performers from nine countries, including the US, the Czech Republic, Argentina, Ukraine and Russia. Watch in awe as the skaters skim effortlessly across real ice in an exhilarating display of aerial acrobatics, spectacular dancing, comedy and be immersed in a fairytale movieland brimming with sensational ice skating!

And only at Ocean Park Christmas Sensation 2008, guests at Madagascar 2 Live will be able to join the wild n’ wacky crew from DreamWork’s animated sequel Madagascar – Escape 2 Africa on safari, live at the Lowland Cable Car Plaza, and ride a runaway lift that will take them to the exotic African plains or party at the Watering Hole Disco. Adding to the fun is the Repair Challenge, an interactive game zone at which guests help fly their new animal friends home.

"For the past seven years, Ocean Park Christmas Sensation has held a special place with our guests," said Dr. Zeman. "We are very excited about this year's Christmas Sensation as we enter into our second partnership with DreamWorks Animation SKG with their Christmas blockbuster, Madagascar – Escape 2 Africa," said Dr. Zeman. "We find our guests really enjoy the experience of being in movie scenes, and we look forward to more collaboration with DreamWorks,” he continued.

And at SkyFair Plaza, things continue to look up with Touch the Sky, Ocean Park’s newest attraction starring an internationally-acclaimed acrobatic troupe from Australia. It is a dramatic aerial fiesta featuring glittering costumes, phenomenal skills and gravity-defying routines of high-energy spins.

Over at the Tai Shue Wan Plaza at Santa’s Holiday Express, guests can follow antique toy trains to visions of Santa across time and tour Santa’s fascinating workshop that is replete with amazing Christmas stories from Santa’s toy factory. A teddy bear corner – where over 2,000 teddies and a special giant teddy will fill guests with glee – and a super-sized piano in the music room will amuse guests as they make their own musical light show. Nearby, guests can meet Santa Claus himself, make funny faces in the mirror maze and play with hundreds of toys along the way! For guests craving for non-stop fun, there’s Wintry Snowball Playground, a place for kids to get into snowball fights, and entertainment from Tummy Twist - a belly dancing and percussion duo – and right by a 40-foot Christmas tree guests can look up to see the Flying Christmas Duet which will leave mouths agape with their mid-air stunts.

And upholding Ocean Park's legacy in edutainment, the Christmas Academy at Kids’ World will feature an array of Christmas craft-making activities! Also with parkwide festive galore, guests can ooh and ahh at all the street shows at every corner with spectacular decoration, culminating with the nightly Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Lights show when the Park sparkles to life!

Dr. Zeman said, “Christmas is a time of cheer and where better to be immersed in the Christmas spirit than at Ocean Park! It will truly be one of the best Christmas celebrations in town!”

*For further details of “The Best Tree in Town”, shows and attractions, please refer to the attached fact sheets.

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About Ocean Park
Ocean Park is Hong Kong’s unique homegrown theme park with a heritage of delivering family fun and fond memories. Since its opening in January 1977 as a non-profit organisation, Ocean Park has developed itself to be a world-class attraction connecting people with nature, and recognised for its animal husbandry, research and relationship with the community. Over 90 million people have visited Hong Kong's premier park since its inception and Ocean Park has remained committed to offering adults and children experiences that blend entertainment with education and conservation. Part of the proceeds from the Ocean Park admission tickets and some retail items will go to Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, Hong Kong to support its wildlife conservation projects