Holiday ice skating rinks previously found in Daytona Beach and St. Augustine weren't open this year.

Yet, that's not the case a little further north at a new holiday tradition.

The Undertow is still. And the "Eye of the Storm" slide is caught in the doldrums. Water slides have settled in for a long winter nap in Jacksonville.

“We switch gears completely,” hints Natalie Dunlap, a WinterFest spokeswoman.

Look close at Adventure Landing in Jacksonville and discover the water park, is a bit frozen, just in time for WinterFest, just minus the ski boat docked in the lazy river.

“It’s pretty neat to see them change what was not used in the winter to something useful that people can do things with,” says visitor Jay Brionge.

Like a ski resort, WinterFest feels like a ski town where they're dancing in the streets while the snow falls from above and some decorate cookies for mom.

“They turn what is a waterpark into a village,” Natalie said of the atmosphere.

Lace up your skates, make sure they are good and tight and step out onto the ice rink.  Here the rink is built into the wave pool basin.

“They slip, they slide, they fall right on their butts, and they get right back up and have a really good time,” Natalie explained.  “It’s pretty funny.”

Follow the frozen supply lines from the wave pool and find then leading to a different type of water slide.

Climb the stairs and hear nervous conversation.

“You know you have to go down by yourself, right?" Jay said to a younger rider.

Wait for the all clear.

“Hang on tight,” a ride operator said.

Once you get the green light, GO!

The Alpine Racer is a 130 feet long frozen water slide.

“It’s definitely faster than a waterslide and your pants don’t ride up on you.  So it’s preferable,” Jay said with a laugh.

“He thinks 200 miles per hour, I think about 30 miles per hour,” a mother joked.

Afterward, slow down, warm up to the fire and make smores.

Something tells me, she’ll remember the warm glow of the season.

“Snow in shorts, in Florida, right here in Jacksonville,” Natalie concluded.

Adventure Landing expects around 40,000 people to visit WinterFest this season.

Tankful on Television
Live in a Bright House? You can catch new Florida on a Tankful stories each Thursday through Sunday on News 13 and Bay News 9. New editions play at the end of each hour starting at 6 a.m. and run through the afternoon.