Santa’s Village: Have a Merry Summer!

If you’ve got young kids and are looking for great entertainment the whole family can enjoy this summer, then be sure to put Santa’s Village in Bracebridge, Muskoka at the top of your “must do” list.

Now – full disclosure – in the early 1980s I was an Elf at Santa’s Village (or “Santa’s Summer Ho Ho Home” as it’s also called). Stationed in the Gingerbread House, my job was to bake delicious goodies that smelled and tasted like Christmas.  Working for Santa didn’t seem like work at all, not with happy kids coming in for a treat and resolutely banging the screen door on their way out as they headed off to the next cool stop in this one-of-a-kind theme park.

I’m a mom with a happy kid of my own now – and she gets a whole lot happier when she knows Santa has arrived back in town from the North Pole. That’s because, not only does he bring his reindeer, but he also has fantastic rides (Christmas ornament ferris wheel anyone?), including a choo choo train, a roller coaster, a merry-go-round, a bouncy castle and more. He’s got daily kids’ shows, animals, yummy eats, and helloooo candy! Older kids will also enjoy Sportsland (go-karts, mini-golf, batting cages, laser tag, and an arcade) and tree-top adventuring at Muskoka Ziplines & Aerial Park.   On hot days the family can cool off under the giant candy cane fountains, run through the splash pad, or brave the giant water tipper. (Looking for more things to do in the region while you visit?  Check out BEYOND, the handy trip planning site created by Santa’s Village and the Muskoka Steamships to help you explore more this summer.)

Also very cool: every kid through the gate gets to be an “Elf for a Day” and you’ll get a stylin’ hat to prove it.  And as if in testament to the popularity of Santa’s summer ho ho home (located right on the 45th parallel…Bracebridge is halfway between the North Pole and the Equator), throughout June, July and August you’ll see kids, young and old, wearing their hats all over Muskoka – and further abroad. So much to see and do and you don’t have to wait until December to get in the holiday spirit. Put some jolly into your vacation and be sure to visit Santa’s Village this summer. I’m planning on going a few times this July and August – and I’ve been visiting Santa for over 30 years!

Going on now you can get a  2 for 1 admission coupon for Monday and Fridays, plus other valuable deals by getting on Santa’s Nice List. Check out this deal by clicking here.

For accommodations in the vicinity of Santa’s Village in Bracebridge, Muskoka, click here. Come for Santa’s Village and stay for more: for ideas on other attractions in the region, click here.

Blogger: Kate Monk

Kate Monk is a staff member at Explorers’ Edge who was born and raised in Muskoka. Her first summer employment was working at Santa’s Village – still the most fun she’s ever had at a job.  She is a proud Elf alumnus.