originally posted on 1/13/2025
Photo: Jo Pools. View full-sized image.
ACE Europe has four seasonal gatherings each year. This year the region met for Winterfest 2024 at lovely Liseberg (Gothenburg, Sweden) the weekend of November 29-30. White lights twinkled throughout the park, lining walkways, covering trees and shining down from the spectacular sky tower.
A beautiful park during the regular season, Liseberg sparkles bright during the holiday season.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
With easy access from the Gothenburg airport via frequent shuttle buses, Liseberg poses a dramatic sight when approaching on the motorväg. Three coasters cover the hillside along the side of the park, and two more appear alongside the highway. During the Christmas season, the park runs Balder, a recently retracked Intamin woodie, and Valykyria, a gracefully fast and smooth Bolliger & Mabillard dive coaster. The park’s two small family coasters — Rabalder and Stampbanan — are both surprisingly fun, especially with a group of ACEers.
The weather in Sweden was quite chilly, cloudy and damp with the sunset at 3:30 p.m., but toasty fire pits lined walkways, and hot glühwein and varm choklad made the day cozy and cheerful. When the lights came on, the park was truly magical. The saying goes, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing,” and attendees were grateful for recently purchased waterproof parkas, beanies, gloves and scarves. Liseberg was conveniently ready to replenish lost beanies and gloves in the Valkyria gift shop.
The Grand Curiosa Hotel was the meeting place for attendees on Friday night.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
On Friday evening, the group met in the magnificent and whimsical lobby of the Grand Curiosa Hotel, which was recently added at the back of the park. Everyone spent the evening at the Hard Rock Café, which is a short tram ride to central Gothenburg.
An unexpected backstage tour of Lisebergbanan allowed attendees to get a close look at the roller coaster’s control booth.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Saturday, ACEers met up at midday for a surprise backstage tour of the venerable Lisebergbanan. This was Anton Schwarzkopf’s favorite coaster of those he designed. ACE Europe extended gratitude to Pontus Halberg, park commercial coordinator, for incredible hospitality, providing fun details and allowing attendees to walk beneath the trains inside the maintenance shed and into the control room (“don’t touch any buttons!”).
Winterfest was the site of the European premiere of “The Legacy of Schwarzkopf” documentary.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Following this unexpected delight, those in attendance were treated to the European premiere of “The Legacy of Schwarzkopf” in the hotel theater. This highly anticipated documentary of roller coaster designer legend Anton Schwarzkopf was a labor of love by the producers, and it showed.
Producer and photographer Scott Schaffer, editor Nicholas Laschkewitsch and many others spent thousands of hours gathering stories from the Schwarzkopf family and colleagues as well as ride footage. This presented both a personal and historically fascinating story. Bravo!
Throughout the event, attendees enjoyed Valkyria as well as the park’s stunning holiday decorations.
Photos: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
At closing time, attendees gathered in front of Balder for some ERT, and what an ERT it was! The ride operators kept the energy high, beeping the dispatch horn in time to chants up the lift hill: “Bal-der! Bal-der! Bal-der!” As is ACE Europe’s custom, after each ride all moved one row back, and the rear car riders moved to the front row. This allowed everyone to experience all the seats on the train and also ride every ride! Those who haven’t experienced Balder after the retracking need to make a point to do so. The ride is one of the smoothest re-rideable woodies, also with relentless pacing, and 10 moments of off-the-seat airtime. Attendees just couldn’t get enough and on Sunday, ITOTs on Balder and Valkyria provided opportunities for more rides before the park closed.
In a nod to its history, Liseberg has a car from its defunct Bergbanan on display.
Photo: Jamey Frank. View full-sized image.
“Come for the coasters, stay for the friends” is ACE Europe’s motto, and the group stayed together during all the events and social gatherings. This included dinners at Tyrolen and Al Parco restaurants in the park, daily breakfast and lunches in the Grand Curiosa Hotel’s Saluhallen buffet and nightly drinks in its Rooftop Bar. Spending time together both inside and outside of the park made for a memorable experience, a chance for all to practice multiple languages (or at least try a few words) and build lasting friendships.
Special thanks were extended to Christopher Karlsson from Sweden and Jo Pools, ACE Europe regional rep from Belgium, for planning this fun-filled weekend. ACE Europe invites all to meet for ACE Europe Springfest 2025 at Gardaland (Castelnuovo del Garda, Veneto) and Movieland Studios (Lago di Garda, Veneto) in Italy, April 12-13.
— Jamey Frank, ACE Europe Assistant Regional Representative
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