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The festive season has come around once again, which means it’s nearly time for Santa to visit the children of the world. For fans of the big jolly man, here are some of the top destinations around the world for some serious Santa spotting.
Lapland, Finland
If you just can’t get enough of the Christmas season, head to Santa’s Resort in Kakslauttanen, Finland, for some year-round yuletide fun. It’s the real-life version of the North Pole, and is the ultimate traditional Christmas experience. Here, you can visit Santa and Mrs Claus and their home, and be served hot drinks and gingerbread by the elves. Elsewhere, venture out into the knee-deep snow and try your hand at reindeer sledge-driving, and pan for gold at Gold Creek, with the very special Gold Elf. Make sure that you write home from the Santa Claus Post Office, with a special Arctic Circle post mark. Or simply wander around the village, taking in the snow-covered Christmas trees, and fairy lights dotted around the buildings.
New York City, United States
Christmas is an especially magical time of year in the always-bustling mecca of New York . This city loves to celebrate the festive season, with the famous tree in Rockefeller Centre becoming such an icon in recent years that the lighting ceremony is now broadcast live on US television. Elsewhere around the Big Apple, the best place to visit Santa is at the department store Macy’s. The store is transformed into an elaborate winter wonderland for the festive season, with a sleigh, brightly lit reindeer and elves displays, and of course the jolly man in the red suit himself.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Each year, the world’s oldest amusement park, Bakken, near Denmark in Copenhagen, attracts more than 100 Santas from all over the world for the World Santa Congress. Held over four days over the summer in July, the Congress features a variety of fun activities in and around the park, including a Christmas gala show, a Santa parade, and the Santa World Championships, which consists of a race around an obstacle course. If you can’t make it to Bakken over July, then the Pixie Forest at Bakken is open all year round, and it’s Christmas every day. Here, you’ll see Santa’s house, and the Christmas tree is always decorated with thousands of tiny fairy lights.
Santa Claus, Indiana, United States
Any list of the world’s best Santa Claus spotting destinations wouldn’t be complete without including the town that shares the same name – Santa Claus, Indiana. This is another great destination for year-round fans of Christmas cheer, as the locals have happily embraced the theme, celebrating Christmas every day of the year in the self-proclaimed ‘Christmas Hometown of America’. There are a variety of Christmas themed stores that are open every month of the year, as well as a Christmas museum and even a Santa-themed amusement park.
London, United Kingdom
There are so many festive events happening around the English capital around the Christmas season, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to Santa spotting. First up, there’s the long-running annual Christmas Grotto, held at iconic department store Harrods. Parts of the store are transformed into a magical Christmas wonderland, complete with a fake night sky full of sparkling stars. There’s also the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, with a magical ice kingdom, ice skating, Christmas markets, and of course Santa himself in attendance. Finally, Santa’s reindeer can be visited at the Reindeer Lodge at the London Zoo Parklands.
Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia
A Christmas on Sydney’s famous Bondi Beach, with the sun, surf and sand, is about as far removed from the traditional cold, white Christmas as you can get. But here, you’ll still see Santa, albeit a more casual version – maybe even on a surfboard! Each year, thousands flock to Bondi for a relaxed Christmas on the beach, with a casual barbeque and catching a few waves the order of the day. Many beachgoers get into the festive spirit, donning Santa hats, and suit – on Christmas at Bondi, Santa can be seen everywhere you look.
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