Discovery Cube’s Winter Wonderfest gives kids and families a snow-filled day

Despite temperatures in the 80s, youngsters in Orange County still can experience icy cold snow and it doesn’t require a long trip to the local mountains.

Parents and kiddos need only make the short drive to the Discovery Cube Orange County in Santa Ana, where 100 tons of snow awaits, ready to be crafted into snowmen, ice castles and snow angels.

The presence of the frosty stuff marks the annual return of the Discovery Cube’s Winter Wonderfest, which also provides little ones the opportunity to slide down a snow-covered hill suited to their age group.

Because the Winter Wonderfest is hosted by the Discovery Cube, there is an educational element that accompanies the snowy playland.

“Science is in everything we do,” said Michael Wheeler, Discovery Cube’s communications director. “So, let’s have some fun and bring out some snow. Kids can’t always get access to snow so let’s bring it to them and be able to have the conversation around science.”

Speeding in an innertube down the Winter Wonderfest’s 75-foot slope, for example, offers lessons in the laws of physics.

Do you move faster at the top or the bottom?

Other science-meets-snow learning stations will provide lessons on the three states of water and how animals adapt to the cold.

“They’ll do it in a kid-friendly way,” Wheeler said. “(It’s) helping kids think critically about different things.”

The Winter Wonderfest has become so popular, it had to be moved to a larger area in the parking lot behind the museum, said Samuel Aguayo, guest services manager.

“The guests really do get into it,” Aguayo said. “First thing in the morning, people want to be the first ones out to get the freshest snow.”

After getting their fill of the snow, youngsters can head inside the museum and discover how scientific laws such as heat, engineering and math apply in the kitchen.

More than 200 gingerbread structures are on display, all of which were submitted in the Discovery Cube’s Science of Gingerbread competition.

Among the winners are a gingerbread Eiffel Tower, an LED-certified gingerbread house and a gingerbread dollhouse.

Kids can also build and then race a mini race car constructed out of holiday candies.

If You Go

What: Winter Wonderfest

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 17, Dec. 22 through Jan. 7; Science of Gingerbread runs till Dec. 31.

Where: Discovery Cube OC, 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana

Tickets: $19.95; children 2 and under admitted free

Information: (714) 542-2823 or oc.discoverycube.org.

Lou Ponsi is a contributor to Times Community News.