The past couple of years have been devastating for community attractions like Lincoln Park’s Fantasyland, but unlike many local events, Fantasyland never took a pause.
That’s not to say there weren’t a few bumps in the road. There were — but organizers still found a way to make it work.
In the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Fantasyland couldn’t open as usual, due to pandemic restrictions and protocols. However, the next-best thing was to offer virtual visits with Santa Claus, which were set up by appointment only.
In 2021, Fantasyland reopened its doors to the public, but by appointment only. Organizers say although everything went well last year, limiting crowd size by scheduling visitors resulted in about half the number of visitors the attraction usually draws each year.
In 2019, the year prior to the pandemic, the attraction drew approximately 26,000 people. Last year, when visitors had to make appointments to attend, it drew about 13,000.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual visits with Santa Claus were by appointment only in 2020, so families wishing to participate had to reserve their time with him by visiting the Lincoln Park Fantasyland Facebook page. (Photo courtesy of Melanie Petri)
However, this year things have returned to normal, at least in the sense that appointments are no longer required. Organizers are hoping that attendance numbers will return to pre-pandemic levels.
For those unfamiliar with this Downriver tradition, Lincoln Park Fantasyland has been bringing Christmas magic to children and their families since 1964.
It’s described as a magical place that offers a peek at what it’s like at the North Pole, where Santa’s elves are busy building, repairing, polishing, baking, tending reindeer, and all the other chores that go into making Christmas happen. Fantasyland combines a festive holiday display and visits with Santa Claus.
The annual tradition is presented by the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and takes place at the Lincoln Park band shell, 3240 Ferris St.
The event is put on under the direction of Chamber President Debbie Van Cleave and Executive Director Sharon King.
According to Van Cleave, the chamber is the organization that created Fantasyland, but later on, the city took control of its operation. In 2007, the chamber took it back from the city, and that’s when she and King stepped in as its main organizers.
Lincoln Park Fantasyland offers a peek at what it’s like at the North Pole, where Santa’s elves are busy building, repairing, polishing, baking, tending reindeer and all the other chores that go into making Christmas happen. (Photo courtesy of Sharon King)
The 2022 Fantasyland season officially began on Nov. 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, as well as a presentation of the key to the city to Santa Claus from Mayor Michael Higgins.
But as you might imagine, setup for the event began much earlier than that. Van Cleave said they usually like to start right after Halloween, but due to the statewide Nov. 8 election, they weren’t able to get in the building until Nov. 8.
It usually takes three to four weeks to set up the displays, so this year they had to be extra efficient with time management in order to have it completed by Thanksgiving weekend.
“We assembled it in 12 days,” she said. “We have a good crew of volunteers.”
Van Cleave and her son both took a week off work to make sure the display was set up in time for the beginning of the Christmas season. Virtually everyone who sets up the display, those who work during the event and those who take it down, are volunteers.
Those who run Fantasyland say they enjoy seeing multi-generational families attend the event, as well as repeat customers.
Perhaps one group that sticks out is the Griswold family. In case you’re wondering, they’re not related to the fictitious Clark Griswold of the classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” movie. According to Van Cleave, this Griswold family comes all the way from Traverse City each year to visit Fantasyland. Their kids are in college now, but the holiday magic of Fantasyland hasn’t worn off.
For a handful of others, it’s such a special holiday attraction they hire a limousine to take them there and make a day out of it.
A fun fact about some of the shadow boxes featured at Fantasyland is that they came from the Ford Rotunda in Dearborn, which was destroyed by fire on Nov. 9, 1962. One of the Rotunda’s features was its Christmas fantasy display.
Opened in 1964, 2014 was a special year as Fantasyland celebrated its 50th anniversary. It brought Christmas magic to families near and far with dozens of Christmas scenes, animatronic puppet shows, a life-sized Nativity and visits with Santa. (News-Herald file photo)
Until this year, the price to attend had been only $1. The price was doubled this year, but at $2 per person, it’s still considered a bargain.
Photos with Santa, taken by a professional photographer, are $5 or two for $8.
The attraction is open from 4 to 8 pm Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and from 2 to 8 pm Saturdays and Sundays. On Christmas Eve, it will be open from 10 am to 2 pm
For more information, visit facebook.com/lpfantasyland.