Father Christmas Visits are so expensive

We're doing Lapland UK this year and yes, it's really bloody expensive. I don't think it's necessary to do every year. My two will be meeting the big man for the first time and they're 6 and 8.

He does have to come from the North Pole!

It's a £2 donation where we live. Cheaper alternatives to the fancy stuff can be found.

Mine are too old now but hever castle and the bluebell railway were the best ones we did. The crap school fair ones were not a hit.

Mine are far too old for it now but the one they remember most fondly was a cheap £8 visit at a local outdoor and tent store. Whilst waiting, I had to fill in a card with details of their interests and hobbies and friends or siblings or pets names so that when it is their turn with him, he magically knew everything about them.

That and when all the local farmers decorate their tractors in lights and do a procession!

YANBU. I spent a fortune on a Father Christmas ‘experience’ when DC was 2. Absolute waste of money. The following year we happened to see a Father Christmas at a local school Christmas fete for very little (can’t remember the exact amount). After that I didn’t bother with the expensive events and just scouted out local fetes ect.

Santa visit at our local garden centre is about £10.

Paying for visits to Lapland UK, and all the rest of the marketing nonsense about breakfasts and "experiences" and train rides and the rest of the shite is hardly essential.

Agree. Why travel miles and fork out £££? Look out for local school church and comminity events and relax

He seemed to turn up for free on the regular when they were little at nursery or wherever, then after than they see him each year for £1 at the school Christmas fair including a gift. And they absolutely do that here until age 11 when they leave the primary. The gift is usually a book and they are wrapped en masse by PTA volunteers, I’ve helped several times.

Then he turns up at the village fair driving around on his sleigh and throws sweets. The kids drape themselves in fairy lights and get very excited to be out after dark. Do you have any community events like this? Christmas lights switch ons, Christmas fairs, church events, that kind of thing? We all got very excited for Christingle when I was a kid, walking through the streets as a procession holding our oranges with candles and fidgeting until the end of the service when we were allowed to eat the few dolly mix attached to it with toothpicks. I’m not remotely religious now but like a Carol service, and our town does a non religious one as a Christmas singalong and someone sells mulled wine and it all gets quite merry.

Can you look on local pages and noticeboards, parish councils, local pubs, historic houses etc for community based events rather than at businesses for ticketed type visits? I’d suggest it’s often nicer, definitely cheaper and the DC like going along to things with their friends too.

Another vote for Windsor Park Illuminated

Clearwell Caves - really special

Sorry I totally read DD2 not 7

I think DS is too old this year, and he's 6. We might go and see some lights somewhere. Or you can do Longleat without the Santa train?

DS saw him 4 times last year and I didnt pay specifically to see him.

1. At nursery so included in regular cost
2. At a playgroup, again included in the £2 session cost
3. At a light event (TBF we had to buy tickets for this but would have done anyway)
4. On his "sleigh" around our local village (tractor)

What about Christmas Light instead of Santa given they are now 7?

Looking at where you've been previously and the area you are covering. How about Windsor Illuminations in the great park. It's lovely and christmassy

Just don't bother?

None of my DC have ever been to see Santa, and tbh I think Christmases have been all the more magical for it! Santa is a one-night-only thing for this family.

You could spend the money on something like the ballet (one of my DD's loved it when granny took her to see the Nutcracker when she was about 7) if you really want a special festive outing!