Meeting Santa over the Christmas period is always a popular annual outing for children and at garden centre grottos this year the festive treat is again being extended to include a member of the family who is often overlooked.
No not granny but the family pet and Dobbies, whose branches include Gosforth and Birtley, will be hosting special events so that dogs and their owners can visit Father Christmas too. Santa Paws, opening on December 3, is aimed at those wanting to celebrate the festive season with their canine friends and the dog-friendly grotto experience, including a photo opportunity with Santa, promises to be a treat.
The more usual Santa's Grotto experience for children will be on offer as normal, from November 24, alongside a Quiet Grotto, open from December 9, to support children with special needs. This will feature changes to the sound and visuals with the aim of reducing anxiety while each child waits to meet Santa and his elves.
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The grotto trips promise an immersive experience, with elves escorting visitors through a magical woodland, spotting reindeer, rabbits and forest creatures along the way. Children will become Santa's little helpers, participating in various activities during their visit before meeting Santa and receiving a special gift.
There will be an opportunity for families to pay for a photograph with Santa too. This is also available with the pet visits, which will include a special doggie gift, although Dobbies does not say whether the rabbit-spotting on the children's 'woodland' walk is included.
Sarah Murray, Dobbies’ partnership and events manager, said: “Meeting Santa is an important part of Christmas and we’re looking to make this inclusive for all, with quiet and dog-friendly events available in our Gosforth store. We can’t wait to bring the magic of Christmas to life for our customers."
Advance booking for the Christmas events is recommended. The Santa's Grotto and Santa's Quiet Grotto tickets cost £11.99 for each child and Santa Paws is £6.99 per dog. The prices have been held, says the compnay, with no price increases.
Customers can, if they wish, make a donation to Dobbies’ national charity partner the Teenage Cancer Trust, when booking online: see here.
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