Attendance doubles at second annual Museum of Aviation Winter Wonderfest

WARNER ROBINS -- It felt more like summer at the second annual Winter Wonderfest outside the Museum of Aviation on Saturday, but that didn't stop several thousand people from showing up to indulge in some winter-themed activities.

It's estimated between 6,000 and 8,000 people attended the first day of the two-day event, which raises operating funds for the Museum of Aviation Foundation and the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.

"The event has doubled, as well as the attendance," said Nicole Bissette, director for the Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame. "We were hoping for this amount, so we are ... very happy with the number."

In the middle of a long line for a ride down one of two 65-foot snow tubing slides made from real snow, Lex Bailey, of Byron, waited with his young daughter, Ashtyn, and girlfriend's son. Bailey said he heard about the event from a friend and decided to check it out.

With sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s, Bailey said the kids are "excited to do anything outdoors, especially with this weather."

Ashtyn Bailey said she wanted to try the Stunt Jumpz first, but the line looked too long.

Foot traffic from the entrance of the museum to a parking area across the street stalled traffic on Ga. 247, and southbound lanes were backed up past the Russell Parkway bridge.

Jousting, rock wall climbing, bounce houses and a food truck vendor festival are among the winter-themed activities offered at this year's fest.

Regina Young, who works at Robins Air Force Base, waited with her friend's youngster in line for the Stunt Jumpz, a four-story rig in which people can jump from a platform onto an inflated surface as if performing a movie stunt.

"This is the only line we've been in and it's been almost an hour," Young said. "But it is beautiful out."

Over at the food truck festival, a shorter line waited for pork outside Perry-based Johnson Boys BBQ.

"We've had a pretty steady line all day," said the business's owner, Mitch Johnson. "It's been a great turnout so far. It's actually a little more than we expected."

The Winter Wonderfest will be open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Armbands for the ride are sold on site and range from $12-$15 depending on age.

Money raised from the event "goes to keep this place running," Bissette said. "It's basically, you can help the community, help the museum and have fun doing it. It's really a neat little fundraiser."

For more information about the event, visit www.museumofaviation.org.

To contact writer Laura Corley, call 744-4334 or follow her on Twitter @Lauraecor.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 8:09 PM with the headline "Attendance doubles at second annual Museum of Aviation Winter Wonderfest ."