When people think of the winter holidays, chances are the legendary old Santa Claus comes to mind at least once. And when people think of Santa Claus, some folks (namely, Hoosiers) are likely to also think about a cute little town in the far southern portion of the state. Santa Claus, Indiana is thought of by many as a Christmas town, and it is – don’t get us wrong – but what plenty don’t realize is that it’s more than that: it’s a holiday town that loves going all-out for more than just Christmastime. In fact, this tiny Indiana town is home to an epic theme park – one whose theme is, quite literally, holidays. Several of ’em.

Santa Claus was established in 1854 as Santa Fe, only to learn that there was already a Santa Fe, Indiana, which had beaten them to building a post office.
tengrrl/Flickr
Hoosiers are known for making the best of things, and in true Indiana spirit, the folks of Santa Fe the second renamed the town Santa Claus, considering it was nearly Christmas time and hey, they needed a new name anyway.

Santa Claus is now known as the Christmas capital of Indiana, and understandably so.
Hundreds of letters pour in year after year addressed to Santa Claus himself and sent to this little town.
Drew Tarvin/Flickr
Every year, the town hires plentiful elves to respond to the influx of fan mail for jolly St. Nick. The town also gets ridiculously decked out every year in anticipation of the holiday season - but Christmas isn't the only holiday season they love to celebrate.

In fact, they go all-out for a few holidays, including Halloween. Every autumn, before it becomes a winter wonderland, Santa Claus is transformed into a spooky Halloween haven.
Perhaps this dynamic nature is what contributed to the main attraction in town: Holiday World. This delightful, family-friendly park features themes including the 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and, of course, Christmas.
Inferno Insane/Flickr
Better yet, Holiday World is no minor affair. It's a huge park (two parks in one, technically, with the addition of Splashin' Safari) featuring America's only launched-wing roller coaster, the world's longest water coaster, and so much more.

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There are five thrilling roller coasters on the grounds, and you'll definitely want to make time to tide each one.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari/Facebook
Also at Holiday World are more than 20 family-friendly rides, six kids-only rides, and five awesome water-based attractions like a wave pool and a splash-pad playground. Families come from all over the United States - and all over the world - to experience the thrills at Holiday World, nestled in Santa Claus, Indiana.
It's quite an unusual feeling to be surrounded by several very different holiday themes.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari/Facebook
Where else are you going to go to experience the thrill and excitement of Independence Day, the scary delights of Halloween, the delicious memories of Thanksgiving, and the joy of Christmas all in one or two action-packed days?
When planning your trip, it's important to keep a couple of things in mind.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari/Facebook
The busiest days are on the weekends, so to beat the crowds, we suggest visiting at some point between Monday and Friday. Interestingly, the slowest seasons are in May and June, so you'd ideally plan your adventure for a Wednesday in May for the most fun with the least amount of lines.
Best of all, the park provides soft drinks, sunscreen, parking, Wi-Fi, and inner tubes - all for free.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari/Facebook
It doesn't get a whole lot better than this delightful several-theme-park in Santa Claus, Indiana.

For the most up-to-date hours, dates, ticketing information, event calendars, and more, make sure to visit the official Holiday World website. Readers, what are your holiday plans? Tell us all about them in the comments! Need a little more holiday cheer in your life? Check out this list of some of the best Christmas lights displays in Indiana!

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