For the past four years families have made popular outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops’ Santa’s Wonderland event part of their Christmas tradition.  “Santa’s Wonderland–A Classic Christmas” returns for its fifth magical year with all the fun games, activities, crafts and free photo that makes this a much sought after event by families.  The excitement begins with Santa’s arrival Saturday, November 10 at 5pm plus there’s a new special feature this year.

Families can enjoy the wonder of Christmas inside every Bass Pro Shops store with “Santa’s Wonderland”—an over 3,500-square foot Christmas village chocked full of fun games, activities and crafts for the whole family -from November 10 through December 24.

“My favorite part is that it puts a smile on my daughter’s face,” said Mark of Ft. Lauderdale after visiting the Santa’s Wonderland event last year at the Bass Pro Shops in Fort Lauderdale.  “It really allows her to experience what Christmas is all about,” he said.  Anna, a customer at the store in Orlando, Florida said, “The fact that the whole experience is free the coloring, the games, all of this, all the expenditures that they do, and don’t expect anything in return is just amazing.”   Christy, also from Orlando agrees and added “Getting the picture for free is amazing. I don’t know of anybody else that’s doing that.”

Comprised of both animated and live elves, nutcrackers, reindeer and more, the village offers an old-time model train area, remote control trucks, a laser arcade, a soft gun range and slot car racing.  Kids can also play the hottest video games of the season with The Strike™ and The Hunt™.  They’ll love the activity tables where they can write a letter to Santa, color and do fun crafts every day of the week–all absolutely free. Of course, Santa will be in residence there throughout the season.

New to the event this year is a special ‘talking caribou.’  Every store will have an animatronic caribou which will play messages from a motion activated sequencing and also has the ability to interact with the crowd via an associate and a hidden two way microphone system.

Always a family tradition, customers can get a free 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa from 3pm to 8pm Monday through Friday, Saturday’s 10am to 8pm and Sunday’s noon to 5 pm. Children who get their photo taken weeknights only from 3-8pm will receive a free Santa coloring book (while supplies last).  Photo and gift packages will also be available. If the line is long, they can just grab a Bass Pass and their appointment with Santa is set.

Every weekday, Monday through Friday, from 5 to 7 pm beginning November 12 through December 24, and every weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from noon to 5pm beginning November 10 through December 23, kids can take part in the time-honored traditions of making crafts and holiday ornaments.  They can make fun items like a stuffed Christmas owl and Santa, a Candy Cane reindeer, and construct great ornaments out of Popsicle sticks and more–even decorate Christmas cookies December 24 3-5pm   Again, it’s all free!  Visit www.basspro.com/santa  and click on your local store for a complete schedule of Santa’s Wonderland activities and times.

Bass Pro Shops stores will kick off the Christmas season with a special Preview Night Saturday, November 10th from 5 pm to 8 pm. Local children’s groups and choirs will be singing Christmas carols in front of the store and customers will be treated to hot chocolate and cookies.  Santa arrives at 5pm in a Tracker® boat pulled by a Toyota Tundra truck.

Kids will be invited to help Santa, through a little magic, light up the outside of the store and a big Christmas tree in the main entrance.  Then they can follow Santa into the store for the unveiling of Santa’s Wonderland.  Santa will also be giving away $25 Bass Pro Shops gift cards to one lucky winner every half hour.  Kids can kick off the season by coloring stockings and can also get their free photo with Santa that night from 6-8pm.

Return to the Christmas feeling you remember as a kid, return to “Santa’s Wonderland” at Bass Pro Shops and begin your own family tradition you are sure to remember for a lifetime.