The other villages of Santa Claus

Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, everyone knows that. It does, however, have a few satellite villages here and there in the Nordic countries. We will show you some of them, while waiting to be able to visit them, one day, for real!

Marie Tison
Press

Santa’s House

Girardville, Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean

It is a small house, but it is brilliantly decorated and above all, it is open during the holiday season, for those who live or will be passing through the area. Despite his busy schedule at this time of year, Santa is well and truly there and willing to meet with the children to hear their Christmas wishes. Mother Christmas is also in the party with sugar fudge pancakes, bear paws, gingerbread and hot chocolate with marshmallows. Outside, the little ones can greet Santa’s reindeer, take a train ride in the forest and hurtle down a small slope on an inner tube.

Santa Claus Village

Val-David, Laurentians

The year 2021 has also been difficult for Santa Claus. Thus, contrary to tradition, the Santa Claus Village of Val-David does not open its doors this year during the holiday season. In any case, many of the activities offered there are not suitable for winter, such as slides and water games or the hebertism trail. It will be more comfortable to wait until summer to have fun there. Farm animals and wizards will likely be back next summer, as will Santa himself. In fact, the old man wisely stayed at the North Pole during the summer of 2021 and interacted with little visitors to the village of Val-David by satellite communication. Everyone is hoping that he will be back in person in the summer of 2022.

Santa’s Workshop

North Pole, New York

In North Pole, just at the foot of Whiteface Mountain in the Adirondacks, is Santa’s Workshop. The site offers a few rides that are primarily aimed at young children. They are therefore small. For example, the “big” wheel has only six cabins and the roller coaster has five wagons. However, children can feed Santa’s reindeer and insist their parents have lunch or dinner with the old red man. On site, there is also a “Village en lumière” in the late afternoon and early evening, with choirs of Christmas carols and marshmallows to roast over the fire.

Santa’s Village

Jefferson, New Hampshire

Santa Claus has set up one of his villages in Jefferson, New Hampshire, near Mount Washington. This is also a theme park that particularly targets summer visitors, but the village still opens its doors during the holiday season. On site, rides are accessible, such as the little train and the big wheel. With the snow, the treasure hunt in the park is a bit more challenging than in summer. The reindeer are there, winter and summer. There are more rides open in the summer, although in 2021 the pandemic and shortage of elves forced a few to close.

Santa’s Village

Bracebridge, Ontario

In our neighbors Ontario, there is a Santa Claus Village in Bracebridge, on the edge of the Muskoka River. It is still quite far, 400 km west of Ottawa. If you cannot visit the park this winter, it may be possible to go there next summer to visit the enchanted forest, attend the elf school (lessons are in English), play mini. golf and have fun on rides designed for young children, such as the Ferris wheel, carousel and roller coaster.

Santa Claus House

North Pole, Alaska

The village of North Pole is not located at the North Pole… but in the middle of Alaska! Santa Claus, however, was unable to resist the temptation to set up a second home there in 1952. It is mainly a souvenir shop, which offers Christmas decorations and sweets. However, it is possible to go and greet Santa’s reindeer in an enclosure right next to his house. During the summer season, you can go inside and learn a lot about them. In winter, you can simply admire them by staying outside the fences.

Santa World

Mora, Sweden

Santa Claus has a weakness for Scandinavia. He found a small place in Tomteland, a fairy tale park in Mora, Sweden. It is an area that lends itself well to the magic of goblins, dragons, trolls, fairies and witches, with forests, high mountains, lakes and waterfalls. Here, we are not talking about rides, but open-air theater, with mysterious or funny characters who interact with the children or who present a plot that requires their participation. Obviously, everything takes place in Swedish. Fortunately, characters also train children in dances that do not require any language skills.