Heading to Santa’s? Come Hungry!

Of course, you’ll be mesmerized at the millions of twinkling lights. For sure, you’ll want to scrape the sky in the world’s largest traveling Ferris wheel. Santa’s loves for visitors to experience the merriment of Christmas festivities and the thrills of the rides, shows and pure fun.

But bring your appetite, too – enticing aromas and mouth-watering selections have been a part of the Santa’s tradition for 35 years!

Just want to enjoy some classic fair food? We got you covered. Freshly squeezed lemonade, smoked turkey legs, potato chips, French fries, pizza, popcorn, kettle corn and chicken on a stick all wait to be devoured. Fresh ears of corn sizzle as they are roasted to perfection. Dough is fried to a gorgeous golden brown for funnel cakes, elephant ears and donuts before being doused in finger-licking good powdered sugar. Your favorites are almost certainly enticing you to head to the park.

Prefer food with an international flair? You’ll find it at Santa’s! Savor the Latin American delicacies of carne asada – grilled, sliced beef with a charred flavor – and chicharrones – fried strips of pork skin. Or try a favorite from our northern neighbor by digging into a traditional poutine – a Canadian dish of French fries and cheese curds topped with brown gravy. You’ll also find tasty treats like Greek gyros, Spanish kabobs and Venezuelan arepas – savory bites of dough filled with corn and cheese. Not to mention Mexican and Italian favorites, too.

Already ate dinner? Come for the desserts! Let Santa’s satisfy your sweet tooth with chocolate covered marshmallows, cotton candy, candy apples dipped in M&Ms and caramel, fried Oreos and gooey fried Snickers. Feeling adventurous? Try Dragon’s Breath – a delightful concoction developed when foodies got creative with liquid nitrogen and fruity cereal puffs.

Power 96’s Lucy Lopez put Dragon’s Breath as the number one food to try at Santa’s Enchanted Forest this year. Check out her top five list here.

Santa’s is ready to satisfy your taste buds – pull up a chair (or picnic table), grab some napkins and dig in!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

“Snap” Away at Santa’s Enchanted Forest

Sharing pix from Santa’s just got even better now that we’ve added Snapchat filters!  If you have location services and Filters enabled on your app, you can add a fun overlay by just swiping. See what Santa’s has to offer while you’re at the park.

You can even add your memories to “Our Story” in Snapchat. Our Story is a collection of snaps from our Snapchatting visitors. Once in the app, you can find Our Stories on the Stories screen below your recent updates, on the Discover screen, on the Snap Map or in Search, under ‘Featured Stories.”  To submit a snap, follow these steps:

1. Tap the capture button to take a Snap
2. Tap the blue arrow in the lower right-hand corner of the screen
3. Select “Our Story”
4. Tap the blue arrow in the bottom right to submit your Snap!

Snaps that are submitted to Our Story are viewable for different amounts of time – some are there for only a day or two, while others can be viewed for much longer. To view Our Story, tap on the SEFMiami story, tap to skip to the next Snap and swipe down when you’re done!

Need some ideas for where to take your Snaps? Photo opportunities abound when you walk through the gates at Santa’s Enchanted Forest. Here are just a few of the great angles from which to capture your favorite moments at the park.

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• Take a classic photo with Santa and another with South Florida’s largest Christmas Tree.
• Make a funny face while hanging out with Santa on his fishing boat or jet ski.
• Let every member of the family pick a different cutout for an awesome collage.
• Get artsy with the Sky High Ferris Wheel illuminated in the background.
• Be romantic with a couples’ selfie on Mistletoe Lane.
• Indulge in Dragon’s Breath or Fried Oreos and share your reaction with the world.
• Snap photos of your loved ones screaming and laughing on Santa’s many rides.
• Capture the competitive nature of friends playing carnival games, riding the mechanical bull or trying to dunk the insulting clown.

There’s a gazillion more possibilities for some memorable photos, and hopefully you have some creative snaps to share. We’ll be looking for your favorites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #santasenchantedforest or #SEF35years and keep snapping! We love seeing how much fun our visitors have!

And when you just can’t get enough of Santa’s, but can’t be there in person, you can still see what we’re up to on Snapchat.  Follow us @SEFMiami – the official Santa’s Enchanted Forest handle.

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

 

 

Five Ways to Show Your Appreciation This Veteran’s Day

At Santa’s Enchanted Forest, we are proud of the men and women who serve, defend and protect our country now and in the past. In honor of Veteran’s Day, here are five ways to show your appreciation this Veteran’s Day.

Bring a Veteran to Santa’s Enchanted Forest
Let us thank your veteran and celebrate our heroes in person! Holiday spirit, family fun, thrilling rides, delicious food – it’s an evening of enchantment for the entire family. We have a special offer for veterans and active service members on Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11. Qualified active service members and veterans receive $10 off a single-day admission ticket when they present a valid military ID and/or proof of service at Santa’s box office. Up to four family members and dependents may also receive $5 off their admission price when visiting with a qualifying service member. For more details on this special offer, please visit our website.

Attend a Veteran’s Day Event
Cities across the country celebrate Veterans Day with special ceremonies and parades. For example, the Miami Beach Veterans Day Parade and Picnic will be held Saturday, Nov. 11 at 11:11 a.m. The annual parade takes place along Ocean Drive from 5th to 14th street and is followed by a picnic and demonstration from the All-Veterans Parachute Team. Find other events online or from your local news media.

Roy Rogers said, “We can’t all be heroes; someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by.” Here’s our chance. Take the opportunity to applaud their commitment, dedication and sacrifice.

Fly a Flag
Veteran’s Day is a great opportunity to fly the flag. There are rules for properly displaying the American flag, so if you’re not exactly sure what those are, check out Military.com’s guide to the flag.

Talk to a Veteran
Do you know a family member or friend who has served? Take a minute to ask him or her about their service experience. Ask about what they did and how long they served. Listen and give them your full attention. Also, understand that sometimes it’s not a topic veterans want to discuss. It’s okay then to simply thank them for their service.

Send a Note
If you know a veteran, write a  postcard or e-card that recognizes them on Veterans Day.

For more information and additional ideas, read  “8 Ways to Express Appreciation on Veterans Day” at military.com.

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

35 Winners for 35 Years!

Santa’s Enchanted Forest is Now Open for its 35^th Year! We plan to party all season long and look forward to sharing this celebration with you. For starters, let’s kick this anniversary off with a season of winners. Want to win a pair of tickets to the park? Now’s your chance. Click here to enter.

We will choose five winners at random each week beginning Nov. 9 for seven weeks until we’ve named 35 winners. See what we did there – a winner for each year we’re celebrating!

We’d also love to hear all of your memories from the past 35 years. We have so many enjoyable memories from seasons past, and we’ll share a few below. Tell us about your most memorable visit – whether it’s your first visit or if coming to the park has been a longstanding family tradition passed on from generation to generation. Comment on our blog or post on social media using the hashtag #SEF35.

Youthful Exuberance

Santa’s has something for every age, but we delight in seeing the faces of kids experiencing the excitement for the first time. The smiles are priceless and timeless!

Thrilling Rides

The reactions to our rides never disappoint! Visitors show how much fun they are having in their expressions and we love it! And this year we’ve added new thrills with the Sky High Ferris Wheel and the Mega Drop. Check out all our rides and share your favorites with us.

Photo Ops

Meeting Santa. Santa on a jet ski. Santa on a boat. The Grinch on a jet ski. We’ve got cutouts, holiday displays and of course photo opportunities with our gorgeous tree and Santa himself. All of these pix warm our hearts. Tag us with your best snapshots!

Trick or Treating

The costumes and laughter were always a great way to kick off the season. While we fondly share these pics from years past, please note that the dates for Halloween and Santa’s opening will once again align in 2019 and 2020 … it’s never too early to start planning for Halloween with Santa!

Romance

We’ve had stories of engagements on Mistletoe Lane – the lights and gazebo are the perfect setting for this milestone. Do you have a tale to share? Your first date, anniversary celebration? Let us know! And if you are planning on having date night at Santa’s, try these activities to add a little fun competition to the evening. Be sure to tell us your favorite part!

Holiday Decorations

We love lighting up the South Florida skies every night. From the largest Christmas tree in the area to the literally millions of bulbs that decorate our space, we are so happy to extend the holiday spirit to everyone. We hope you’ve enjoyed the spectacular light shows we’ve shared over the years.

It’s wonderful that we now get to see so many more of our visitor’s special moments, thanks to social media. We hope you’ll continue to share them with us for years to come! Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win tickets! There’s so much to see and do this 35^th season at Santa’s Enchanted Forest!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

Santa’s Thanks Our First Responders!

Santa’s Enchanted Forest couldn’t be prouder to be celebrating its 35th anniversary in South Florida. When the doors open on November 2, you can expect to experience the holiday spirit, joy and fun that have kept visitors smiling and laughing for the last 35 years.

This anniversary, Santa’s wants to express its appreciation to its South Florida community and family for making Santa’s a success year after year.  We also want to take the opportunity to say a sincere thank you to all the first responders – firemen, police officers and paramedics – who not only jump to service during a crisis, but are also on site at Santa’s every season in the event of emergencies.

To further show our gratitude, South Florida’s first responders and their guests* are invited to enjoy Santa’s Opening night festivities!*  Santa’s will kick off the 2017 season with it’s annual tree lighting ceremony and a special dedication in honor of all the heroic efforts made for public safety.   Members of the Miami-Dade County Commission will also be present to express their appreciation. The celebration begins at 6:30pm. Join us November 2 as this exciting season gets under way! We hope to see you there.

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

*Police, paramedics and firefighters are invited to enjoy Opening Night Festivities at Santa’s Enchanted Forest and will receive 50% OFF regular single day admission tickets (including up to three additional guests). First responders must show a valid and current government-issued ID and accompany their guests to the park. Offer valid for November 2, 2017 only. 

Highlights of Four New Attractions Coming to Santa’s in 2017!

We know our visitors love the traditions at Santa’s – great holiday displays, visits with Santa, millions of spectacular lights, a breathtaking 90ft musical Christmas tree and hundreds of rides, shows and attractions. Fortunately, we’ve learned how keep those traditions going strong while also adding new thrills and memory-making opportunities to entertain our guests every season!

Our 35th year in operation is no exception.  The holiday mainstays and carnival favorites are still onsite, but we’ve got some great NEW attractions you’ll definitely want to experience! Here’s a peak at just four that we’re looking forward to sharing with you this season!

Introducing Santa’s Sky High Wheel! We’re bringing North America’s largest traveling Ferris Wheel with over one million LED lights and spectacular views to South Florida! Soar over 150 feet in the air for the best aerial views of Santa’s spectacle of lights, along with the chance to gaze at Miami’s skyline. From the top, you can see up to 15 miles away! It’s the coolest thing to do with your family this season!

Back after three years – the Megadrop! Shoot up into the sky on this 130-foot tower of power and then feel the stomach-lurching thrill of plummeting back to earth in less than two seconds. Not for the faint of heart, Santa’s is so excited to bring this crowd-pleaser back to the park!

Santa’s Snowstorm. Bring the kids to this new interactive holiday-themed game show and watch them compete in creative and challenging tasks. Every participant is a winner! Great Entertainment for the entire family.

New kiddie rides! We didn’t forget the little ones. Our collection of kiddie rides has expanded by 20 percent, so technically this isn’t just one thing … but with additions like the Flying Bees and Wiggle Worm, we’re sure you’ll forgive our math! Bring your kids to Santa’s Enchanted Forest and have a blast together!

And there’s much much more! Check out all the new rides and experiences when Santa’s Enchanted Forest opens November 2! You won’t want to miss out on all the excitement and celebration planned for this special 35th anniversary season!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

Four Reasons to Treat Yourself to a Santa’s Season Pass

Santa’s loves its Season Pass holders. If you haven’t purchased your Early Elf Season Pass yet, here’s four reasons to do just that.

1. Unlimited fun. A one-day ticket to Santa’s Enchanted Forest includes all carnival rides, but with so much to do, you’ll want to experience many of those thrills again and again. A Season Pass gets you unlimited access to all that fun!

2. Flexibility. Bring the little kids for an hour or two. Let the teenagers hit the rides for all seven. With a season pass, you have the option to pop in just to enjoy the magic of the Christmas tree spectacular and satisfy your craving for carnival food or plan an outing for the entire evening.

3. Park Perks. Season pass holders who purchase their tickets online get special perks, including discount coupons to use inside the park and other exclusive offers throughout the season. We’ll send you deals for Black Friday, an invite to bring a friend at a discounted price and VIP express pass opportunities for a steal.

4. New Attractions. Santa’s is celebrating it 35^th anniversary in a BIG way with spectacular NEW rides, games, shows and attractions.  You won’t want to miss a chance to soar 155 feet high on the Largest Traveling Ferris Wheel in North America with views up to 15 miles away.  And for those looking for extreme thrills, the Hard Rock and Roll makes its debut for the first time in Florida. Whoa! Families won’t be disappointed either with the addition of the Euroslide, Santas’ Snowstorm, an all new Christmas tree light show and 20 percent more kiddie rides.   There’s more …. but you’ll need a season pass for sure to do it all.

Convinced? Purchase your season passes online today!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 2, 2017 – January 7, 2018, including holidays.

 

35 Reasons to Spend an Evening at Santa’s Enchanted Forest

35. Get in the holiday mood. Santa’s opens November 2. What better way to kick off the merriment of the holiday season?
34. You need ideas for your own Christmas decorations. See South Florida’s largest musical Christmas tree and light spectacular and take home some great ideas for your own holiday show.
33. The photo in front of that Christmas tree is exactly what you need for your Christmas cards and social media profile pic.
32. Relive your childhood memories. You rode the merry-go-round as a child and you want to create the same wonderful experience with your kids. Santa’s is thrilled to be part of more than one generation in your family.
31. Family tradition. It’s more than just a childhood memory; it’s an annual tradition! If you come to Santa’s every season, we love you for that!
30. Birthday celebration. It’s the kids’ birthdays, your birthday or your cousin’s best friend’s daughter’s boyfriend’s mother’s husband’s birthday. No birthdays to celebrate this season? Check out https://www.famousbirthdays.com/ and honor the birthday of your favorite celebrity with a trip to Santa’s!
29. You want to pop the question. Get engaged on Mistletoe Lane. A romantic story to share on your wedding day and for many years to come.
28. Other special occasions. You got a promotion at work. The kids aced a spelling test. Celebrate “Marooned Without a Compass Day” on November 6 or “Wear Brown Shoes Day” on December 4. We swear we’re not making this up (someone on the Internet might be, but it wasn’t us!) Find random excuses to have some fun at http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/.
27. Meet someone new. Single? Put that dating app to work and meet up at Santa’s for a memorable first date.
26. Date night with your significant other. Santa’s isn’t just a great place for a first date – it’s an awesome place for all couples! Leave the kids at home and indulge in fair delicacies and thrill rides (maybe not in that order). That sounds so much better than dinner and a movie, doesn’t it?
25. Speaking of fair delicacies … Fried Oreos people! Satisfy that hankering for mini donuts, candy apples and elephant ears.
24. Mouth-watering aromas. Santa’s turkey legs, roasted corn, gyros, arepas and fajitas. There are so many flavors that all smell delicious – bring your appetite!
23. You’re overdue for a night of thrills. Crazy Mouse, Windstorm and Magnum await.
22. It’s time to embrace your competitive side. Win an awesome prize at one of the carnival games.
21. You’ve figured out the perfect insult to get back at that darn clown. Don’t wait any longer – go for it and then dunk him while you’re at it.
20. The kids wrote letters to Santa and you lost his address. We’ve got a mailbox with a direct route to the North Pole. FYI, December 7 is Letter Writing Day.
19. Good entertainment can be hard to find, but Santa’s has a magic show, motor cross spectacular, children’s variety show and so much more.
18. Team building. Santa’s is a great option for an office outing.
17. Girls’ night out. Grab your squad and have a night to remember. You’ll just have to post those pictures on Instagram and Snapchat (Santa’s has cool filters to use for even more fun!)
16. All your favorite television shows are on winter hiatus. And you’ve watched all the episodes available on Netflix.
15. The hurricane season officially ends on November 30. After the intensity of storms this year, that is cause for a night out.
14. Your favorite sports team won a game! Or lost one, for that matter. Celebrate the victory or forget the defeat – you can do both at Santa’s.
13. School’s out! Nuff said.
12. You’ve had long hours at work and need fresh air. Santa’s is happy to relieve some of the daily stresses of life.
11. Family reunion. Kids, teenagers and adults alike can all find something to enjoy at Santa’s. Put on matching T-shirts and let the world know you are related and ready for fun.
10. School reunion. You graduated 25 years ago. Don’t celebrate in a hotel ballroom. Get everyone together at Santa’s and relive the glory days.
9. You’re counting steps. Grab your FitBit and head to the park. You can definitely get a couple of thousand moving through the holiday displays and rides.
8. Pictures with Santa. Why wait in line at the mall when you can have way more fun the park and still get to tell Santa what you want for Christmas. Plus, you can also get photos with him on a fishing board or surfboard!
7. You promised the kids. The only way you got them to leave last year was to promise them a return trip this year. They will most certainly remember!
6. You’re getting a season pass. Thank you! Use it as much as you can this year – we hope you catch our Early Elf special before Opening Day!
5. Santa’s theme song is stuck in your head. Give in and sing it all night long as you “come to see the lights at the wonderful …”
4. The house is a mess. The dusting can wait another day. Having a great evening with friends and family cannot.
3. It’s Monday. Or Tuesday, or Wednesday … Santa’s is open seven days a week from Nov. 2 through the first week of January.
2. You won the lottery. Okay, so maybe it was only two dollars, but you can still put it toward souvenirs, yummy lemonade or a chance to win a better prize at one of the game booths.
1. And the no. 1 reason to spend an evening at Santa’s Enchanted Forest … we’re kicking off our 35^th year in South Florida and we want to celebrate it with you!

 

12 Tips for Visiting Santa’s Enchanted Forest

1. Buy your park passes online. You’ll be able to head directly into the park and won’t have to spend time waiting to purchase tickets at the gate. Click the “Buy Tickets” tab on Santa’s Facebook Fan Page or visit santasenchantedforest.com to get your passes today.
2. Come early – gates open at 5:00 p.m. – and stay late – the park is open until midnight. Seven hours of fun await!
3. Visit Santa’s on a week night. Saturday is without a doubt the busiest night at the park, and the lines are definitely longer on the weekends. If Saturday is best for you, consider buying an Express Pass to skip the lines and get on your favorite rides quickly.
4. Pack a disposable poncho or rain jacket – we mostly love South Florida weather in the winter, but sometimes it does get wet. As you know, the rain doesn’t last long when it does blow through, so being prepared means you won’t have to cut your trip short if the weather isn’t ideal.
5. To beat the crowds, walk straight to the back of the park and then work your way to the front.
6. On your way to the carnival rides, look at the schedules posted in front of the performance areas for each of our nine nightly show stages. Planning the best time to take in the amazing entertainment is a great way to get everyone in your group to meet up and watch a show together.
7. Leave some time to indulge in our delicious food and beverage options. Grab dinner or a snack to enjoy while watching a show.
8. Try your luck at a carnival game. Prizes make great gifts for kids of all ages!
9. Look out for the specially designed Santa’s Enchanted Forest photo stops. Make a special memory and take a family photo.
10. Take your picture with Santa. Head to his workshop early in the evening and then pick up the photos on your way out.
11. Leave your mark on Santa’s by embracing the kid inside. Look for Santa’s coloring board and add your artwork to the mix.
12. Buy a souvenir to help you recall the great memories all year round! From photos to knickknacks, there are lots of options to remember your special evening at the park.

With this plan in hand, you’re all set for magical evening at Santa’s Enchanted Forest!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, from November 3, 2016 – January 8, 2017, including holidays.

Looking for the Perfect Gift?

Tickets to Santa’s Enchanted Forest are ideal for everyone on your holiday list!

Type “best gift of the season” into any search engine, and a wealth of ideas – from the latest tech gadgets to the hottest kids toys – will appear on your screen. But if you’re looking for a gift that suits everyone on your Christmas list, we think that passes to Santa’s Enchanted Forest are at the top. Need a gift for …

Your significant other? With all of the holiday shopping, planning and activities, a night for just the two of you is definitely in order. Sneak two Santa’s Enchanted Forest passes in your love’s stocking – for extra fun, include our date night scavenger hunt – and enjoy an unforgettable evening.

Parents, grandparents and extended family? The greatest gift you can give any family – including your own – is time together. So why not spend those moments making incredible memories with a backdrop of millions of Christmas lights and tons of activities for every age? Up the preciousness of this gift by including a picture frame to hold the awesome family photo that will be taken with Santa or in front of South Florida’s largest Christmas tree.

Friends? Wrap up a single day pass as a present and include one for yourself. Significant others and family are not the only ones who cherish time together. Get a group of your besties together to compete in carnival games against one another, catch a daredevil motorcycle show or scream your heads off on the craziest rides. Eat a fried Snickers bar or share a gigantic elephant ear and add to the great stories you’ll have to tell.

Teachers? With half of the school year under their belts, teachers deserve an evening to feel like kids themselves over the winter break. A Santa’s Enchanted Forest pass gives them just that!

Teens? The best gift of the season is certainly a moving target when it comes to notoriously finicky teenagers. Give them the gift of time with their friends to conquer thrilling rides and indulge in sugary carnival treats. They can text, Snapchat and Instagram themselves into a frenzy!

Kids? Merry-go-round rides. Cotton candy. Holiday decorations. Santa Claus. Santa’s Enchanted Forest is a wonderland for children. The joy on their faces with be worth every penny.

Anyone else? There’s something for every taste at Santa’s.

And if folks on your holiday gift list already have season passes to Santa’s Enchanted Forest, don’t worry. Purchase an Express Pass – it makes a great stocking stuffer, too! Recipients will thank you for the opportunity to skip the lines and hop right on their favorite rides.

Celebrate the season with smiles, laughter and time together – purchase Santa’s Enchanted Forest passes online today!

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Santa’s Enchanted Forest, 7900 SW 40th St., Miami; Open 5pm – Midnight daily, From November 3, 2016 – January 8, 2017, including holidays.