Shawnee Heights students help set up Winter Wonderland in Topeka

TOPEKA (KSNT) – Set up for the annual Winter Wonderland display in Topeka is underway for the holiday season.

TARC is setting up the display for its 28th year at Lake Shawnee. Around 200 volunteers are helping pitch in with the big effort to get everything ready for the opening week.

Volunteers spend around four to five weeks getting the display up and running for guests. Shawnee Heights students with developmental disabilities have helped out with the lengthy setup process since 2008.

“It gives us a chance to learn what it’s like to actually work at a job all day long,” said Ann Willhelm, a teacher in the Shawnee Heights school district. “It’s different than being at school all day, having a job, and working.” 

Winter Wonderland opens to the public on Nov. 26 and will be available through to Dec. 31 this year. It can be found at 3435 SE East Edge Rd. in Topeka and will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Saturday.

All proceeds gathered at Winter Wonderland go towards benefitting TARC. You can learn more about the event by clicking here.

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