Santa’s Wonderland at Wayville, from 10 – 28 December 2020 – Review
Amusement rides, stage shows, an ice-skating rink, tobogganing slides, and an activity trail … even the ‘grinchiest’ grinch will feel like all their Christmases have come at once at this festive spectacular.
by Carla Caruso
Maybe it’s because 2020 has been such a challenging year, but I’ve wanted to embrace Christmas fun even more … whether it’s checking out Christmas lights or bingeing the festive Netflix series, Dash & Lily.
And Santa’s Wonderland is Christmas fun times a gazillion!
With the cancellation of the Royal Adelaide Show and many events in 2020 due to COVID-19, it was exciting to find out that the festive extravaganza would be back for its fifth year, with new COVID-safe measures in place.
Some such measures include the event moving from a smaller space at the Adelaide Showground to the Jubilee Pavilion, allowing additional floor space and lower patron density for more responsible social distancing. As well, its ball crawl isn’t being used with the balls this year, though it’s still in use as a jumping castle. Also, hand sanitiser dispensers have been dotted throughout and staff ensure high-touch surfaces, like handrails on rides and ice-skating boots, are disinfected after every use.
None of these measures in any way minimise the joy of experiencing this magical, walk-through wonderland.
Here’s what’s included:
- 3 hours of unlimited rides, representing ah-mazing value (think dodgem cars, ride-on reindeers, a dragon-wagon coaster, and more)
- Ice skating (with blue skating aides you can sit on or push a child around on)
- Tobogganing
- Three inflatable jumping castle zones
- A free activity trail show-bag (with stops where the kids can scoop up reindeer food to take home for Christmas Eve, mail a letter to Santa, and meet Mrs Claus – girl power! – and more), and
- Live Christmas stage shows.
There are also ‘selfie’ ops galore, so you can take home magical mementos from the event. Take a snap with a National Pharmacies Christmas pageant float, inside a light-up walk-through Christmas bauble, or on the Ice Maiden Winter Wonderland White Sleigh, and beyond. You can also have professional family pics taken with Santa. (Pre-purchase photo packs online to guarantee an appointment time.)
Our three-hour session flew by. To cap things off, the kids got to experience a flurry of faux snow upon exiting. They left on such a high.
We’ll definitely be back next year!
CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS
What we like about it
- There’s such a friendly, happy vibe, exuded by everyone from the roaming characters to the food service personnel.
- Unlike going to the Royal Adelaide Show or a fair, you don’t need to restrict how many rides the kidlets go on as it’s all included.
- The magic of Christmas, as a child, is such a short time – best to fully embrace it while it lasts!
- This is an all-weather event – fully undercover and air-conditioned.
- It’s also fully accessible for wheels with accessible toilets and baby change facilities. Santa’s photos have wheelchair-access rooms too.
Things to consider
- Pre-purchase tickets online to save money and avoid disappointment.
- Ticket-scanning starts 30 minutes before your session’s start time. To get the most out of your sesh, arrive then to enjoy the pre-show entertainment, Santa’s arrival, and the red curtain reveal to the wonderland.
- The ice skating can be wet, so a change of clothes is recommended. Socks are also essential and gloves are recommended.
- Speaking of the indoor ice rink, it makes things a tad chilly. So, bring a jacket or cardi.
- Expect some queuing at popular rides.
- Bring pocket change for the food and carnival games, which aren’t included in the ticket price.
- Adults can ride with children on some suitable amusement rides. Jumping castles, however, are not suitable for grown-ups.
- Wear comfy shoes as you won’t be sitting much!
- The event’s ‘explosion’ of colour, lights and noise could be a bit much for some youngsters.
Coffee and food options nearby
Handily, there are food and coffee stalls on-site if you need a fuel-up.
Location:
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See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide here.
For more information or to snap up tickets, please visit the Santa’s Wonderland website.
What: Santa’s Wonderland – Review
When: Ends Monday 28 December 2020
Where: Jubilee Pavilion, Adelaide Showground | Goodwood Rd, Wayville
Who:Festive fun-loving families
All photos by Carla Caruso for Play & Go Adelaide
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
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