Since 1989, Santa’s Village has delighted children of all ages as they travel from one tiny dwelling to another to experience holiday crafts, treats and activities, culminating with a visit with St. Nick himself. The tiny town has become an annual tradition for families from across the region, and many people who visited Santa’s Village in its earliest days are now bringing their own children to experience the holiday magic.

When Santa’s Village first came to life in 1989, it consisted of a continuous display of dwellings laid out in an L-shape. In 1996, Alcatel committed $125,000 to improve the village over five years. That donation led to the construction of 16 larger stand-alone dwellings that are still used today. The City also added fencing and holiday lighting to enhance the tiny town.

Every year, Santa’s Village relies on hundreds of volunteers who commit nearly 2,000 hours to bring the event to life. About 25,000 people are expected to visit Santa’s Village this year.