hristmas carols poured through the speakers as visitors walked through a lighted tent filled with holiday figures. And that was only the beginning.
Once past the entry gate, guests hopped aboard Santaland’s very own polar express. The train, actually more of a hayride, drove visitors through an arch of twinkly Christmas lights and into Christmas town.
Santaland was a holiday experience in its third year, but the first year the operators paired with the City of Cape Coral’s Parks and Recreation Department. The event ran Dec. 20-23.
“It’s a great holiday experience for families and kids. We didn’t want it to not happen,” Todd King, special events coordinator for the department, said of the partnership.
He estimates that 5,000 people visited the park during the week it was open on the SunSplash property. Santaland operator Ryan Colmer said the event was created to bring something special to the area and that SunSplash was the perfect venue.
“It is a great, signature place to have it because everyone knows where SunSplash is in the county,” Colmer said.
This year, Santaland went through a few changes with fewer rides and more of a Christmas experience, according to King.
The park had a lighted enchanted forest filled with Christmas lights and holiday lighted figures that led guests into Christmas town. Claymation Christmas favorites played nightly on a big inflatable screen. A lighted, green tinsel tree was the park’s centerpiece.
Santaland also featured some kiddie rides, an arts-and-crafts tent and reindeer games for the children. The s’mores pit and a visit with Santa Claus were favorites among the crowd.
Leigh Tilman brought her family for a second year in a row. She said they returned because her children had so much fun last year.
“This year, there’s a lot less rides,” Tilman said. “They didn’t have the movie last year and I think they have more crafts this year.”
Her children Emily, 5, and Joey, 8, clad in red and green T-shirts, had a visit with Santa in his tent. Emily said she told Santa she hoped for a doll this Christmas, whereas Joey said he’s just excited to open presents on Christmas Day. His eyes lit up when he saw the large s’mores pit from across the park grounds.
The s’mores pit was continually packed and manned by volunteer elves who helped the children roast their own marshmallows. Families also enjoyed the arts-and-crafts tent and the reindeer games.
Volunteer Arinelle Lewis said the most popular reindeer game at her tent was by far the pin the nose on the Frosty game. Children were blindfolded and had to pin a carrot nose on the snowman.
“I think some of them can see but I’m not sure,” Lewis said, laughing.
After each game, the player wins a candy cane.
King said the city hopes to grow and expand the Santaland experience in the coming years. He said he wants to focus on the light displays and the tinsel tree centerpiece. King said the age the park is trying to reach is elementary school children.
“They believe in Santa and have the Christmas spirit in their hearts. Watching it in the children’s eyes is what it’s all about,” King said.
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