Santa's Village

About Santa's Village

Santa's Village is a Christmas-themed family park in Jefferson, New Hampshire, open since 1953. It is not an AZA-accredited zoo and does not publish a species or animal count; its live-animal component is limited to a reindeer barn among a broader roster of family rides and attractions. The park describes itself as New England's leading theme park for families and operates on a seasonal calendar that runs from spring events through the winter holidays each year.

The park was named Best Family Park at Amusement Today magazine's Golden Ticket Awards, a category the magazine uses for parks built around family-friendly, non-thrill attractions rather than high-speed rides. Santa's Village limits daily attendance and, since 2020, has sold admission online only, a change it says followed years of guest requests to reduce overcrowding.

History

Santa's Village opened in Jefferson, New Hampshire, in 1953. The sources available for this page do not cover its founding story, ownership changes, or expansion history in detail; the park itself notes that it has operated for more than 70 years, weathering only a couple of severe-weather cancellations in that span.

Exhibits and habitats

Santa's Village organizes its grounds around a small number of recurring attractions rather than traditional exhibits. Santa greets guests at his house, and Santa's Reindeer are kept in a barn where visitors can purchase treats to feed them. The Elfabet Game is a complimentary, park-wide scavenger hunt for elves from A to Z. A quiet space on the grounds is set aside for reflecting on the themes of the season, and the Blacksmith Shop hands out complimentary "Good Luck Rings." The Firehouse Game, located at the park's Village Volunteers Fire Department, lets guests squirt water blasters at a fire hydrant target. A seasonal water park, included with admission, operates through mid-September.

Animal highlights

The park's only described animal attraction is its reindeer herd, kept in a barn where guests can purchase feed for $2 to hand out. No other species or exhibits involving live animals are described in the sources used for this page.

Planning your visit

Santa's Village operates on select dates rather than a continuous daily schedule; hours were listed as 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., though the park's calendar shifts through the season — including September Saturdays, Fall FEASTival Sundays, Holly Jolly Halloween dates in October, and Christmastime dates from November into December, each with its own hours. Tickets are date-specific, sold online only, and non-refundable regardless of weather; the park operates rain, snow, or shine. Admission was listed starting at $67 for adults and $46 for seniors, plus a $1 per-ticket processing fee, and includes rides, a Santa visit, the Elfabet scavenger hunt, a Blacksmith Shop ring, parking, stroller use, and seasonal water park access.

Parking is free, with a separate lot for RVs and larger vehicles. The park provides free wheelchairs on a first-come, first-served basis and rents motorized scooters for $40 a day to guests 16 and older. Family restrooms and universal changing tables are available at several points in the park, and a sensory guide developed with Sensory City and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism is available for guests planning around sensory sensitivities. Guests who have difficulty waiting in line can request a "Preferential Accessibility" pass at Guest and Family Services. Outside picnics are allowed, though glass, grills, alcohol, and narcotics are prohibited, and lockers rent for $10 a day at two locations. Pets can stay in one of 36 shaded "Canine Condos" near the entrance for a refundable $10 deposit. As always, confirm current dates, hours, and pricing on the official website before visiting.