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Santa, Trolls…and a Winter Wonderland of Fun!

No need to worry ever again about the Christmas mail to Santa getting lost. It is well known that Santa lives in Dalarna in Sweden, on the outskirts of a town called Mora. His home is simply called ‘Santaworld’. Officially, Santa has been in residence since 1984.

Santa and his elves and trolls, as well as his many other associates, reside in Santaworld all year round. The Troll School stays open all year round; the curriculum includes everything from Troll language to the valuable art of turning a troll into a stone. The witch is always there to tease and the fairy-tale fairy, if she is not too busy, will let children sit on her golden throne. The children’s theatre opens all year round too. And Santa can be spotted relaxing around Lake Aurora where he likes to take his early-morning swim in the summertime. This is a good place for visitors to take a summertime paddle-boat trip too.

But Christmas, as everyone knows, is the really busy time of year for Santa. Santa’s Workshop becomes a veritable hive of activity and Santaworld becomes truly a magical place for visitors. Children get to talk to trolls, dance ring-dances with the spinning Christmas tree, play with Santa’s elves and of course meet and discuss pressing children issues with Santa. He is on hand at all times to welcome his children visitors unless he is taking a nap. Children are warned to watch out for Dusty the snowman, who apparently loves to amuse himself by throwing snowballs at unsuspecting visitors.

The people at Santaworld are well organised and know how much their visitors want to get around to see and do as much as possible. So they organise a great childrens’ day. This starts with a welcome from Santa himself and then continues with Santa School learning extraordinary Santapower. Strictly forbidden to adults.

Throughout the day there is also Troll School, horse and sledge rides, dancing the Santa dance and theatre. And there are meetings with Santa’s other associates, who include Labbatass the little gnome, the Fairy Godmother and Santa’s oldest friends, the Witch and the Fairy. And there are adventures galore laid on by Santa’s mischievous friends.

And as to the serious business of Christmas presents, children do need to check in and make sure that their presents are in process. At Santa’s Workshop it is possible to see the elves and how they actually work throughout the nights making Christmas presents.

The King and Queen of winter also pay Santaworld a visit every evening during the Christmas season. Amidst sparkling lights twinkling on the frost, King Bore and his Queen arrive in a sledge. Children may even get to greet their Majesties. They leave amidst a riotous fireworks display.

Santaworld must offer the ultimate Christmas day out for children. But for the whole family there is Christmas shopping on offer, a gorgeous streetscape of indigenous buildings set amid the lovely Dalarna landscape. And there are Christmas carols, rice pudding and gingerbread, open fires and mulled wine and lovely evening meals at Restaurant Rudolf.

Santaworld is open for the Christmas season from November 26 to New Year’s Eve. And it promises a great day or couple of days out. For overnight visitors, Santaworld recommends one of the cabins or hotels just 100 metres from the gates at the ski resort of Gesunda Mountain. Visitors to Santaworld can even mail their Christmas post from Santa’s Post Office.

-Edwina Hogan