Santa's grotto at home

What it is

Your own Santa’s grotto. A spare room or a garage is transformed with lights, snow and a throne, and a hired Santa sees each child one by one. A wonderful party for friends with little ones, without the queues.

Plan ahead

• Six weeks before: book a professional Santa (good ones get booked up early). Ask about a DBS/background check, costume quality and how many children per hour.
• Two weeks before: ask each parent to send a small wrapped gift with their child’s name, plus a fact or two for Santa.
• The day before: decorate the grotto.

Build the grotto

• Fairy lights everywhere, white sheets and snow blanket on the floor
• A big armchair “throne” with a red blanket
• Fake presents, a sack, a Christmas tree and a sleigh (painted cardboard)
• A short tunnel or curtain entrance for the “reveal”

Activities

• Nice list: children sign the list on arrival.
• Card for Santa: decorate a card to give him.
• Reindeer games: pin the nose on Rudolph, reindeer antler relay.

Food and drink

• Mince pies and mulled wine for parents
• Gingerbread and hot chocolate for kids

Tips

• Have a parent helper as the “elf” managing the queue.
• Let shy children wave from a distance - no forced hugs.