Throughout the years Candyland has reached many children, and the characters came alive in a life-size version of the game at the Provo Library on Saturday.
According to the Hasbro website, the Candyland game dates back to 1949. The creator of the game Eleanor Abbot, who was recovering from Polio, wanted to create a game for children who was suffering from the disease. What originally started as a way to help children cope with a tough disease has turned into a game played by millions.
Ann-Marie Marchant, the teen librarian at the library, heard about life-size board games through a librarian board online.
“They take basic games and make them larger than life,” Marchant said.
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The life-size version of the game was similar to the original. A path was created with different colored squares. Along the path stood many characters, including Jolly, Gramma Nutt, Plumpy, Gloppy, Mr. Mint, Lord Licorice, Princess Lolly and Queen Frostine. Each character stood somewhere along the path and handed out candy to the teens. In this version of the game, all participants were winners.
All of the volunteers who were characters had one memory or another playing Candyland. Two of the the volunteers even got to be their favorite characters growing up. Christian Otting, a graduate from BYU in geography, played Lord Licorice.
“As a kid I read the whole back story (of Candyland),” Otting said. “All I know is Lord Licorice is the best because he is the villain.”
Mike Gymon, a graduate from BYU in civil engineering, played Mr. Mint, also his favorite character.
“I loved Mr. Mint,” Gymon said. “It’s a dream come true.”
It wasn’t just about participating in a game that many of the volunteers enjoyed, but it was being able to see kids love the same thing they loved growing up. Mirielle Sanford, studying photography at UVU, played Gloppy and said she enjoyed being able to participate.
“I’m glad I got to do it, it’s fun to see the kids.” Sanford said.
So whether your favorite memory of Candyland is beating a younger sibling, one of the characters or just being able to sit on a Sunday afternoon and play, just remember you’re never to old to take a trip down Rainbow Trail.
