Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY

Come with us as we visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY.

When Santa’s Workshop opened its doors on July 1, 1949, little did the developers know that they had introduced a new form of outdoor entertainment ultimately to become known as the “Theme Park”.
Read more about the history of Santa’s Workshop.

Nostalgia

Santa’s Workshop leaves me feeling nostalgic.
I first visited Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole around the age of seven. Almost thirty years later, it’s hard to remember the visit except for little things. I know it was raining and my grandma bought me a star wand that I tried to use to stop the rain. They still sell those wands in the hat shop. I have photos of us standing next to the North Pole. The pole looks almost identical today. I also remember getting a globe ornament that said North Pole, NY with the year we visited. It was my favorite Christmas tree ornament. My cats broke it a few years after our visit. I looked for something similar during this most recent visit, but couldn’t find one. They do have a bunch of other ornaments though.

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - North Pole
Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - North Pole

North Pole from my visit in the early 90s.

North Pole from our visit in August 2023.
(from a different angle)

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - North Pole

Yuletide Greetings

When you enter Santa’s Workshop, the first section of the park is the rides. A majority of the rides are meant for younger guests and include a Ferris Wheel, a sleigh coaster, and a reindeer carousel, amongst others.
You can also take a ride over the river and through the woods on the Candy Cane Express, which we did at the end of our visit.

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Reindeer Carousel
Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Reindeer Sleigh

On Dasher, On Dancer

After exploring the rides, you make your way past Santa’s sleigh and reindeer. This is a great photo op, as kids can sit in the sleigh and pretend they are guiding the deer. Making your way downhill, into the rest of the village, the first thing you happen across is the Reindeer Barn. Head inside to visit the reindeer – yes, real reindeer! We also had to opportunity to feed them during our visit!

After hanging out with Rudolph, we headed to see the rest of the village. We first walked past the bakery, don’t worry we stopped in before we left, and headed towards the Yuletide Theater. There wasn’t a show going on at the time, but they have a Nativity Pageant there a couple of times a day.

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Reindeer

Christmas Magic

We continued on our way through the village to the North Pole. Christmas magic helps the North Pole stays frosty all year long. So even on our warm summer day visit, it was still cold to the touch! After looking at the pole and convincing my eight-month-old not to lick it, we headed over the bridge to the St. Nicholas Chapel. Inside the chapel, we looked at the Nativity Scene before heading back out to watch the water wheel. The water wheel is outside of Santa’s Toy Shop, which we also checked out. The Toy Shop is an interactive shop with toys, coloring activities, and a slide!

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Toy Shop
Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Water Wheel
Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Memorabilia

Santa

Next up on our visit to Santa’s Village was the Hat Shop! Inside the hat shop, you can get a custom Santa hat or stocking. Hats come in a variety of colors and sizes, so kids of all ages can get one! They also had a selection of other winter hats for purchase and of course the star wands. Next to the Hat Shop is the Candy Shop. We peaked in quickly but didn’t stay long because Santa’s Daily Proclamation was starting. The Daily Proclamation is on Santa’s Front Porch and our visit included dancing with Chris Moose and Miranda Mouse.

Take a Stroll Down Memory Lane

After checking out the toys we went into The Jingle Jack Theatre. The front of the theatre is full of old signs, pictures, and merchandise from throughout the years, dating back to 1949. In the back, you’ll find a children’s puppet theater where kids can put on their own shows. There’s also the actual theatre section. Check the back of your village map for shows and times!

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Dance with Chris Moose!

Sweets, Songs, and Souvenirs

After meeting Santa, Chris Moose, and Miranda, we went back to the Bakery! On the day of our visit, they had a selection of cookies and brownies, including gingerbread cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and a yummy peanut butter brownie!
After getting our delicious treats, we stopped and sang with Tannenbaum, the talking Christmas Tree, before heading back up to explore the World of Christmas shop. Inside, you can find a large selection of keepsakes and ornaments. We didn’t buy anything on this visit, but plan on getting something this winter when we come back.

Over the River and Through the Woods

When we left the World of Christmas it was starting to rain, so we quickly checked out the Carousel before heading over for a ride on the Candy Cane Express. The Candy Cane Express has both covered and uncovered sections, which was great since it was raining. The short picturesque ride takes you under a covered bridge, through the woods, and back through a tunnel. You also ride past a little elf village before making your way back to the entrance.

Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Welcome/Exit Sign
Visit Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole, NY - Bakery Sign

See you this Winter

After our train ride, we made a beeline for the car since it was raining so hard. We actually exited the park through the entrance since it’s right by the train, but the true exit is through the Post Office and Gift Shop. The Post Office is a real Post Office where you can get an official postmark for your Christmas cards!
We really enjoyed our visit and can’t wait to come back during the winter season to see the magic of the park covered in snow and decorated with lights.

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