David Fisher, Estate Manager of Oakfield Park says families seem more determined than ever to celebrate the magic of Christmas this year: “As well as our repeat customers, we’ve had lots of bookings from people who have never been on The Santa Express before, but after a tough year, they are determined to make this Christmas the most memorable yet. This has led to a surge of demand this year and we are very close to selling out.”
“The latest guidelines from government are to plan for Christmas within a COVID-19 environment” says David, “so that’s exactly what we’re doing. The only real change to the overall experience is that Santa will greet children with their presents on his sleigh, which has been specially designed by the elves to allow for social distancing. Our priority is to continue creating unforgettable memories for families on The Santa Express, thus ensuring the magic of Christmas prevails.”
“The Santa Express is one of only a few outdoor Christmas experiences in the county” says David “and our 100 acre setting is perfect for social distancing. Naturally, the health and safety of our visitors and team is paramount, so with COVID-19 restrictions, we have had to make some changes to the event. Our numbers are limited, and we are selling train tickets for compartments only, rather than individual seats, so that families are cocooned and transported safely to meet Father Christmas. Multiple compartments may be booked for larger groups.”
“The Santa Express is always the most magical time of year at Oakfield Park” David adds. “We have introduced a host of new features to make 2020 the most memorable yet, including Mrs Claus’ Christmas Puppet Show, which will see her beloved naughty puppets get up to all sorts of mischief. We are also launching a new, free-to-purchase Oakfield Park app that allows children to virtually collect clues and solve riddles that Mrs Claus has hidden around the park. Children will also learn how to make take-home Christmas craft and the overall experience will encapsulate the eternal magic of Christmas for all the family. We’re also giving people extra reassurance so they can book in confidence, knowing that if we are unable to run the event due to further COVID-19 restrictions, bookings will be refunded.”
Buffers restaurant will be open throughout so guests and families can enjoy a delicious festive menu and children can post their Christmas letter to Santa in the special post box. The Santa Express runs from Wednesday, 2nd December and some tickets can still be booked.