LEGOLAND® California Rings in 2010
with Rocking Kids’ New Year’s Eve
Biggest Southern California New Year’s Celebration for Kids Features Fireworks, Fun and Four Musical Acts
Midnight struck at 6 p.m. in LEGOLAND® California as thousands of children and their families gathered for Kids’ New Year’s Eve, a festive celebration featuring a Times Square-style countdown and a huge LEGO® brick dropping 22-feet into 2010. The festivities were topped off by a dazzling fireworks display that illuminated the 128-acre family theme park and was the first to light up San Diego’s night sky.
The event, which is sponsored by Western Dental, is the only New Year’s celebration in San Diego designed with children in mind. Mini revelers rocked out in party hats, glow bracelets and special fireworks viewing glasses during four fun family concerts featuring pop-rocker Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players, The Jumpitz, one the hottest children’s entertainment groups in the nation; Nine-year-old hip-hop artist Lil Niqo; and Pink Army, an all girl band based in San Diego.
Kids’ New Year’s Eve marks the end of the month-long LEGOLAND Holly Jolly Holidays featuring the world’s largest LEGO Christmas tree, a LEGO Santa and “Let it Snow” the musical.
The History Behind LEGOLAND
“From Miniland to Family Attraction”
Ole Kirk Christiansen started making wooden toys in his small workshop in Billund, Denmark in 1932. Two years later, Ole Kirk decided upon a name for his toys and his workshop – LEGO, a contraction of the Danish words ‘leg godt,’ meaning ‘play well.’ Coincidentally, it was later learned that LEGO in Latin means “I put together” or “I assemble.”
In 1947, the company bought its first plastics injection-molding machine and in 1949 the forerunner to the LEGO brick was introduced, under the name “Automatic Binding Bricks”.
Inner tubes on the bricks were introduced in 1958, which significantly increased the number of possible building combinations. In 1967, the larger DUPLO® bricks for pre-school children were introduced, and LEGO TECHNIC for older children debuted in 1977. LEGO DACTA®, now know as The Educational Division, was set up in 1980.
It was the increasing interest in the fantastic LEGO masterpieces displayed at the factories that triggered Godtfred Kirk Christiansen’s idea of exhibiting the models outside. He originally envisioned just a little garden, where various LEGO models and figures could be displayed, but when work began on the project, it developed and became much larger.
In June 1968, LEGOLAND® Billund opened for the first time on a 9 acre site. All buildings, landscapes and vehicles were built using standard LEGO bricks, and the park’s success exceeded everyone’s expectations – in the first year alone, 625,000 happy visitors were guests at the park!
LEGOLAND Today
In addition to LEGOLAND California (opened March 20, 1999), there are currently 3 LEGOLAND parks in the world – LEGOLAND Billund in Denmark marked its 40th anniversary in 2008; LEGOLAND Windsor outside of London opened in 1996, and has been awarded the British Government’s top honor for excellence in academic programs and LEGOLAND Deutschland in Germany opened the Spring of 2002.
LEGOLAND California is a 128-acre park geared specifically towards youngsters ages two through 12. With over 50 family rides, “hands-on” attractions and shows, LEGOLAND California provides education, adventure and fun in this first park of its kind in the United States.
Beth Downing Chee
Public Relations
LEGOLAND
