Nebraska’s SantaLand Is A Christmas Attraction That Will Transport You Straight To The North Pole
The small community of Creighton in northeastern Nebraska has been the site of a very special Christmas attraction since 1994. The whole town pulls together to make it happen each year, and each year it gets a little more magical.
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SantaLand began as a fun community project all the way back in 1994. In those days, only a couple of local organizations were involved in setting up the lights and booths in Bruce Park.
As people passed away or became unable to set up their personal lights and decorations every Christmas, those decorations were handed over to SantaLand.
These generous donations are only a part of the magic of SantaLand, though. It is truly a community project, and the entire community is dedicated to keeping it up and running every year.
An estimated 3,000 to 5,000 vehicles drive by the lighted outdoor displays every year. It's a tradition for many families in the area. Even former Creighton residents who come home for the holidays look forward to seeing SantaLand.
Inside is a whole other level of wonderful. A working train chugs through the workshop, carrying a little mailbox that will take children's letters right to Santa.
Sweet little elves toil away, getting all of the toys ready just in time for Christmas. You can stop and watch them work while you have a little treat.
Don't forget to stop by to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus before you leave the workshop. There may be a line to sit on Santa's lap, but it's totally worth the wait when you see your little one's eyes light up.
The town of Creighton has really banded together to keep this delightful tradition alive over the years. Dedicated volunteers spend an estimated 2000 hours every Christmas season making all of this magic happen.
You can help keep the magic alive by making a free-will donation at Santa's Workshop.
For the 2019 season, SantaLand will be open November 27-December 31, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Santa’s Workshop and Mrs. Claus’ Gingerbread House will be open November 30-December 23, 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Get more information on this magical event on Creighton’s website. Also, be sure to check out the SantaLand Facebook page.
As a lifelong Nebraskan, Delana loves discovering the many hidden treasures of her state. She has worked as a writer and editor since 2007. Delana's work has been featured on more than a dozen websites and in Nebraska Life Magazine.
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