SINGAPORE — A theme park touted to give patrons a “winter adventure” has hit a snag, with organisers announcing on Friday (Dec 14) that they are postponing the event by nearly half a year and refunding those who have bought tickets.

Ice Magic – The Whimsical Candy Playground was originally slated to run from February to March next year at Changi Exhibition Centre, but will now be open only in the third quarter of the year. It is expected to feature a sub-zero snow zone with more than 600 tonnes of fresh snow, along with an ice-skating rink, as well as a candy-themed village with life-sized chocolate sculptures.

Apollo Entertainment, the organisers, said in a media statement that the event will be delayed, given “discrepancies in regulatory requirements and technical issues in the construction”.

Its spokesperson told TODAY that it encountered “logistical issues”, such as “ensuring that the correct temperature is maintained in the large venue, to prevent the chocolate sculptures from melting and to maintain the best snow condition”.

The spokesperson added that more than 200 tickets have been sold so far. Full refunds will be provided within a week to people who have bought tickets, which cost between S$20 and S$55.

The company is now “working with the relevant parties to find collaborative solutions to these difficulties”.

“This may sound like a minor issue, but to us, it was critical to visitor experience and safety, and we found it difficult to ensure that the level of quality met our event standards,” the spokesperson told TODAY, adding that it is “more pertinent to postpone the event to iron out these details”.

Ice Magic – The Whimsical Playground is jointly organised by Apollo Entertainment and Taiwanese events company Tophand. Other features include an Alice in Wonderland-themed showcase and dessert workshops.