ELF AND HAPPINESS
Lapland has turned up in Berkshire, and VICKY LISSAMAN finds the magic is still delivered
THE magic begins when two individually addressed letters, sent by Reindeer Post, land on the doormat. Embossed with gold and sealed with wax stamped with the initials ‘FC’, they are icy cold to the touch.
“They must have come from somewhere snowy,” I announce to my children, William, 10, and Charlotte, eight.
I point my smartphone at the envelopes and suddenly, with a little help from ElfVision, woodland characters Sage and Eeko, spring to life by augmented reality.
They have a very important request for the kids – from Father Christmas.
With this year being a bit unusual, he’s a bit behind with everything, so could they go and help out with some last-minute toy making... in Lapland?
Once the children have done their bit in the factory, they’re invited to discover the secrets of Santa’s enchanted world and meet the big man himself!
As every parent knows, Christmas is as much about the buzz of the build-up as it is about tearing open presents.
This letter, direct from Santa, together with the tech wizardry of Lapland’s very own Wishing Glass app, which I had previously downloaded, means anticipation is riding high.
In the days between the invitation being delivered and our visit, we spend time listening to the stories, playing the games and doing activities on the app so we get to know the characters we’ll be meeting – and the excitement level ramps up even further.
On our big day, we follow the directions given by Compass, the wise elf pathfinder – 51.4 degrees north, 0.7 degrees west – and arrive to find Lapland looking fabulous in its pine forest setting... just off the A332 near Ascot in Berkshire.
Members of the Elven civilisation are there to meet us. They teach us their special wave. Put your thumb to your nose, then wiggle your fingers very much like Giovanna Fletcher in I’m a Celeb.
There is then a very warm and welcoming hotel-style check-in, where the “Small Folk” are given Elven passports, issued by the Elf Council, which allow them to travel around Lapland’s secret pathways.
We grown-ups, or “Big Folk”, are wearing our special face masks – the grinning animal designs show we are either “team reindeer” or “team husky”. It’s a cheerfully festive way of steering visitors safely around this award-winning, four-hour, walk-through theatrical attraction.
“Children live in the best nation,” declare the elves as we begin the adventure, “the imagi – nation.”
“And no grumpalumps!” is the message to the parents!
After weaving through passageways festooned with fairy lights, each bubble group is shown to a socially distanced bench beneath the twisted branches of a huge tree and we get to meet Sage and Eeko, the characters first seen on the app, in person.
Then we’re off to the Toy Factory where we encounter Whittle, Conker and Wish, who show us how to build the extra toys for Santa to give to the many children who have made it on to this year’s good list. Next we meet Mother Christmas in her kitchen, where she and her dancing elves have been busy making gingerbread.
Icing and sweets are placed on the spaced out tables for us to decorate the treats. Then she settles everyone down for storytime.
Still nibbling, we say our goodbyes then follow the trail of snow-dusted Christmas trees to the Elven Village, a winter wonderland filled with decorated pines, wooden huts, festive stalls, stores and music.
There is Elva’s Post Office to send off your wishlist to Santa and Bauble’s Shop caters for all your shiny and glittery needs.
Pixie Mixie’s sweets is a kaleidoscope of candy and at Pumpernickel’s restaurant, there’s a menu of Elven gourmet burgers, winter warmers and Mother Christmas’s perfect pies.
If you prefer to grab something on the go, there are crepes and icecream at Pippy’s Pantry and bratwurst and pretzels at Pickle’s Sausages.
The frozen skating pond is the beautiful centrepiece of the village and it feels liberating to step out on to the ice to do some comedy shuffling around the edges, before daring to let go of the barrier.
At our allotted time, we head through elf passport control to meet the very cuddly looking reindeer, who are resting before making their epic journey on Christmas Eve.
After checking in at Compass the elf’s study, our family is then led deep into the forest to Santa’s wooden cabin. The door creaks open and there he is, at his desk by a glowing fire. The children sit down (two metres) in front of him and he greets them by name and chats about their hobbies – Brownies, dancing, gaming and football.
He congratulates William on Hertford Town Youth Under 11s’ 5-0 win on Saturday. Santa has done his homework.
“How do you know all this?” asks William, trying to suss him out.
“Because I’m Santa – I see everything,” he replies with a smile.
Pretty amazed and beaming with delight, the children are given special gifts along with some friendly advice.
“Make sure you go to bed early on Christmas Eve,” he says, and they promise they will.
Thanks, Santa – it’s an extra large brandy for you this year.
Small Folk get Elven passports to travel around the secret pathways