Have you Booked Santa? Best Cork’s Santa Experiences…
HO HO HO!!!! How is it December already. In my head I was going to be soooooo organised this year but it just hasn’t happened. We are at December, I haven’t got most of the presents yet and I am not really sorted at all but sure we have the whole month 😛 I absolutely love the run up to Christmas and going to really enjoy it this year. Girls are a little older the magic is really there so will enjoy it while they are at that ripe age where everything is sooooooo real.
This is the list of Santa’s in Cork I put together for the last few years and just giving it a little dust off and updating. Thought I would get this out maybe in November but sure life, family, work its busy! Many of you may already have booked a Santa experience so if you have fair dues if not this may give you an idea of what is there if you don’t know already.
1 thing I would say is if the kids are really small don’t feel the need to go out and spend loads on tickets for a Santa experience if you don’t want to. One year I brought the girls to a FREE Santa in Midleton Market Green Shopping Centre, there wasn’t the ceremony around it but the girls were so small they were just delighted to go sit on a Santa’s lap and get some celebrations on their way home! There were no gifts but to be honest they get enough anyway and it totally did the job that year!
Here is a list of Santa Experiences I have visited myself or I hear are great from family and friends. I can’t compare and contrast for you as I haven’t been to them all…
1. Cork North Pole Outpost Experience
Child €22 | Adult €14 | Toddler €10 | Baby with Present €8 | Info
We have been invited to this Santa experience and I am very excited! The girls will be too I am sure once I tell the..,.. Santa fever is building in this house. It’s is a fun and imaginative theatrical production bringing to life the real values of a Cork good ol’ fashioned Christmas. Every year the elves bring a truly unique experience for families.
Set deep in the woods, in a private and family-friendly setting, we bring you into a magical world of busy Elves. Interactive and intriguing characters bring a curious difference to the life at Cork’s only North Pole outpost.
Parents are encouraged to involve themselves and play alongside their children, which makes for a fabulous and brilliantly entertaining experience for the whole family!
2. Fota House
Child €19 | Adult €9 | Info
Step back in time and experience a magical guided tour through Fota House this Christmas with your family. We experienced the Santa at Fota House the first year we moved home. It was the first Santa experience I had ever been to. My little girls were just turned 2 and 2 months. It wasn’t possible to bring the buggy around the experience so I just carried the small ones but probably good to note if you have a baby bring a sling or carry. We really enjoyed it.
Be part of something special at this beautiful regency property and meet Mrs Claus in the Victorian Kitchen, where you will begin your journey to Clara, the Mischievous Mouse King and the Toy Prince. Can you help release the Toy Prince from under the Mouse King’s spell?!
Experience the sights and sounds of Christmas as you prepare to meet Santa Claus himself and tell him what you would like this Christmas. Every child will receive a gift from Santa Claus and there will be lots of seasonal photo opportunities throughout the house – so don’t forget to bring your camera!
Our popular children’s Christmas crafts return for 2018 and get ready to leave a wish on our special Wishing Tree. Bakestone will be with us, serving their delicious seasonal treats – warming hot chocolates, mince pies and loads more! Our volunteer craft stand will be on display in the Long Gallery by our gorgeous open fire where you can pick up that unique and handmade gift or last-minute tree decoration!
‘The Magic of Santa’ runs Friday 7th December from 5 pm to 8.00pm, Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th from 12.00pm to 8.00pm; Friday 14th December from 5 pm to 8.00pm, Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th from 12.00pm to 8.00pm.
3. Seek at Fota Island Resort
Off-Peak price: Child Little One €15.50 | Adult Grown up €10.50 | Low price: Child €20.50 | Adult €13.50 price:| Mid Price Child €23.50 | Adult €15.50 | High price: Child €28.00 | Adult €18.00 | Prices depends on which time slots booked | Info
First you Believed, Wished, Imagined, Discovered and then you went Beyond. This winter SEEK out the magic deep within at Fota Island Resort. Take a wonderful Christmas journey to a place filled with Magic and enchantment. Visit Santa in his grotto and wander wide-eyed through the fairytale markets.
4. Santa’s Village Leahys Farm
Child €22 (2 or over) | Adult €14 | Toddler Under 2 €10 | Baby no Present Free. | All tickets come with Farm Entry also. | Info
I have heard this is a great one! Come on a magical visit through Santa’s Village. Begin your journey through the Santas workshop where you will find Mrs Claus baking cookies and scones in her little cottage. From there you will step into a magical land of fairies and elves, where you will be granted a special wish from the Christmas Forest Angel and you will learn some elf tricks in Elf school.
Santa’s Village opens on Saturday 24th November 2018. And finally meet Santa Claus himself where you can have a little chat and receive a little present from him, before his big arrival on Christmas Eve. Your Santa’s Village experience takes approximately 45 minutes. After or Before your visit you have full use of all the other facilities at Leahy’s Open Farm.
Santa’s Village Experience tours start between 4.30pm – 6.50pm Thursdays and Fridays
and from 10 am – 6.50pm on Saturday and Sunday. The farm will open Thursdays at 3 pm and Fridays at 2 pm Last entry to Santa’s Village Experience is 6.50pm. Leahy’s Open Farm closes each day at 8 pm.
6. Santa at Griffins Dripsey
Family Ticket 1 child €25 | Family Ticket 2 children €35 Euro | Family Ticket 3 Children €45 Euro | Additional Child €10 | Additional Adult €5 euro | Info
My sister has gone here and she thought it was great. Santa Claus will be staying in his Cottage from Saturday 1st December right up till Christmas Eve. Fall in love with the magic of the Santa Experience at Griffins, which is one of Corks longest running and Most Popular Santa experiences. When you Book your Magical Family Tickets to Griffins, expect to experience the true magic of Christmas as well as your Magical Visit with Santa Claus. Enjoy the magic of Santa and all his animals’ friends, cared for and loved by all at Griffins. The animals love to be visited by all, young and young-at-heart! Sing Jingle bells With Ned The Donkey. Sensory Friendly Santa experience 5th and 12th.
5. Santa at Grenagh Farm Cost
Child €19 | Adult €10 | Info
Take a special trip to see Santa Claus on our 45 minutes, mostly indoor Christmas Wonderland experience! Take a special trip to see Santa Claus on our 45 minutes, mostly indoor Christmas Wonderland experience! Take a special trip to see Santa Claus on our 45 minutes, mostly indoor Christmas Wonderland experience! Take a special trip to see Santa Claus on our 45 minutes, mostly indoor Christmas Wonderland experience! The fun starts as soon as you arrive at The Farm, with jolly Christmas elves scurrying around bringing visitors on the wheelchair accessible train to meet Santa and Mrs Claus. The fun starts as soon as you arrive at The Farm, with jolly Christmas elves scurrying around bringing visitors on the wheelchair accessible train to meet Santa and Mrs Claus.
6. Santa at Magical Blarney
Cost €12.95 – Child | Photo is mandatory to purchase on booking for€10| Info
I went here as a child! You can enter the child’s name and what they want on booking so it sounds like a personalisd experience.
7. Leap Land
€15 Child | €15 Adult | Info
Reviews are great on Facebook. Have heard it is good!
8. Dunnes Patricks Street
Cost: €10 child | €5 adult | €3 booking fee per transaction | Info
I have heard on a lot of facebook groups I am part of that the Dunnes Santa is a good one.
