Tips for creating a successful Christmas grotto for Santa Claus

Some of the best tips for running a Santa’s Christmas grotto successfully

Are you running a Christmas Grotto this year and need to stand out from the crowd? With hundreds of Grotto’s now across the UK it is even more important to put on a good show to attract as many paying customers as possible. One of the simplest things you can do is make sure to give a great gift like your Santa toy. Whether you’re charging £ 2 for your Grotto or £ 20, gift a toy that represents good value for money.

Whether you get ready-made wrapped grotto toys or wrap your own gifts, be sure to get a good variety of toys for all ages (up to about 10) and genders. If you want to keep it simple, you can offer a generic unisex toy like a stuffed animal for the little ones and a craft kit for the older ones. Most people now get ready-to-go wrapped grotto toys as it takes much of the hassle out of organizing your grotto event. Children are more likely to return the following year if they received a large Santa Claus toy.

You can also try adding value to your Christmas Grotto by including several additional activities for the kids to do along with visiting Santa. Arts and crafts areas for painting and decorating Christmas decorations or stockings are a great way to make your Grotto experience more immersive. If you have space, why not create a workshop space where staff dressed as elves can help children create fun Christmas creations. If you have long lines, why not set up carnival style games like the Christmas rampage or plush snowball toss? Paint a large board and punch holes in it with painted scores, the kid with the highest score each day will be entered into a raffle to win a grand prize at the end of the season.

Making sure you advertise your Grotto well is a must. In addition to the usual signage and mailings, why not send some little gifts to some local schools to entice them to see their Santa.

Lastly, be sure to make your grotto look as magical as possible. Use fairy lights, stuffed animals, Christmas trees and decorations, fake snow to create a space that will make kids feel like they are in a magical wonderland.

Merry Christmas!