Wildbrain Ltd. (Toronto) and We Are Smile Studio (New York) have combined to create “The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic,” a ticketed, holiday pop-up Strawberry Shortcake experience at New York’s Rockefeller Center. The color-saturated installation was inspired by a fable about an old cottage, nestled inside the trunk of a Christmas tree, that’s being showered with magical sugar that the cottage keepers turn into candy that can be scooped up by visitors.
“Strawberry Shortcake has been a part of making the holidays bright for families for more than 44 years, and we are excited to collaborate with The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic to host this special experience in Rockefeller Center…,” said Melissa Goodrich, Director, Franchise Strategy at WildBrain. “Visiting The Candy Cottage of Christmas Magic is just one of the many ways our fandom can celebrate their love of Strawberry Shortcake this holiday season. We’ve launched new toy and fashion collections for fans of all ages, created exclusive holiday recipes and sweet treats, and released an all-new animated special on Netflix, which is the perfect holiday treat for the entire family to enjoy together.”
Wildbrain’s creative partner on the project, We Are Smile Studio, is a new company specializing in creating immersive theatrical experiences. It was founded by six-time Tony Award-winning theater and film producer Arielle Tepper and Creative Producer Vance Garrett, whose projects include the Museum of Ice Cream and Sleep No More.
The make-believe cottage is at the Channel Gardens, 610 Fifth Ave., Suite 7. The installation is open through Jan. 2, with ticket prices between $25 to $45 per person, depending on the day of the week and time.