By: Taylor Briscoe

The Old Cardinal Stadium comes to mind often during summer months when the Kentucky State Fair hosts multiple concerts of big-name artists.  However, plans and thoughts of the stadium often fade away along with the heat, bathing suits, and lazy days of July and August, but this year will be very different.

No longer will teens have to anxiously await snow days for winter festivities such as snow tubing and sledding; this winter it will be as easy as loading up the car with good friends, holiday music, and the warmest gloves and hats and driving to, that’s right, Old Cardinal Stadium.  The Kentucky State Fair Board has announced that the Old Cardinal Stadium will be the newest winter entertainment attraction of the 2011 season.  The stadium is being converted into a winter wonderland filled with an eight-lane tubing hill, an intricate snow maze, an ice castle, and much more.

Although there have been many rumors buzzing around the area about delays and even possible closings of the new park for good due to financial issues, the park’s official website declares they will be opening December 15. The stadium, which has been named Snow Ball Park for the winter season, is open through January 16 and ticket prices will range from $8.00-$15.00.  Snow Ball Park uses Snow Magic Technology to constantly create tiny, frozen ice crystals, even when the outside temperature is not freezing.  This means that even during the dreary, dry days of winter, Snow Ball Park will be chilled, snow-filled, and open to serve as Kentuckiana’s newest winter wonderland.