Greenwich Reindeer Festival returns with dwell animals and Santa

They may not be named Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, or Vixen, however three reindeer are set to descend on one Connecticut town this weekend.

The Greenwich Reindeer Festival is kicking off its seventeenth 12 months within the city this weekend, full with vacation crafts, a letter-writing station for kids hoping to achieve Santa Claus, and the principle attraction of the three dwell reindeer.

The popular Christmas festival can be held at Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouses, or “The North Pole on North Street,” as organizers have dubbed it.

“For 17 wonderful years, the Greenwich Reindeer Festival has been an annual event that celebrates our community’s holiday spirit and brings everyone together,” Greenwich First Selectman Fred Camillo mentioned in an announcement launched Monday by organizers. “I take into account this to be the kickoff to the vacation season in Greenwich and is all the time a variety of enjoyable for the entire household.”

Festivities will begin with an appearance by Santa Claus for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon on Friday, and the greenhouses will also host a holiday market on both Friday and Saturday. The reindeer are set to arrive on Friday afternoon.

The festival is open Monday to Saturday until Christmas Eve. On weekdays, the hours are 12 to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays, it runs 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Christmas Eve (a Wednesday this year), the festival has special hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Attendees can also take photos with Santa at the festival, with the cheapest ticket package starting at $36.99. According to organizers, a portion of the proceeds from the photos with Santa will be donated to Kids in Crisis, a Greenwich-based youth social services nonprofit.

“This occasion has additionally been a means yearly to spice up the essential work at Kids in Crisis,” Camillo said. “I need to thank the Greenwich Reindeer Festival for persevering with to assist fund this nonprofit’s work within the area.”