Join in with all kinds of Christmas fun at Matlock Farm Park, featuring a Santa’s Grotto Experience, Breakfast with Santa and more!

Matlock Farm Park will be decorated over the festive period with Christmas characters around the park to chatting with families. Of course, there’s all the animal and playtime fun of the farm park too!

Tickets will need to be booked in advance.

Santa’s Arrival Day

Santa is on his way to Matlock Farm Park for Christmas and what better way to celebrate his arrival than with a day filled with Christmas cheer, as well as a fabulous array of animal interactive fun!

Santa will be arriving on horseback at 12pm, as he leads the other ponies on parade with their trusty elves, dressed in festive attire. Of course, there will be lovely photo opportunities too. Santa Claus will then head over to his enchanting and cosy Grotto for a mince pie (or two). Grotto bookings will be on sale on the day where you will be able to walk down our Christmas canopy, join Santa and his Elf in the Grotto and receive a special gift.

Also on the day, we will be running lovely Christmas craft workshops for the children to join in with and there will be a festive treasure trail with mini-prizes. Pony rides also available (£3.50 a go, from 2.5 years).

Santa’s Grotto Experience

We’ve had confirmation that the BIG Man in Red and his elves are returning from the North Pole to Matlock Farm Park’s magical grotto!

As you make your way to the grotto, you’ll enter the Christmas Canopy where your child will have the opportunity to write the most important letter of the year… to Santa Claus! You can either post it in the North Pole post box or hand it to Santa in person.

A friendly Elf will take you to try our Naughty or Nice-o-meter to find out if individuals in your family are on Santa’s good list – it could go either way! Then it will be time to be taken through to meet the Big Man in Red for a special chat with your child about all of their Christmas wishes! Santa will also have a lovely early Christmas gift waiting for them.

Tickets include Farm Park entry. You are welcome to spend the day around the farm enjoying festive activities, animal and playtime encounters before and/or after your Grotto time slot.

Autism Friendly Santa Sessions (pre-book only)

Matlock Farm Park has been in deep discussion with Santa Claus to provide a special experience for your loved one. Their Autism Friendly Santa Experience offers a calmer, more relaxed experience at a pace suited to you. Upon booking, choose a specific time slot and let the team know the requirements of your loved one – you may also wish to call them prior to visiting to discuss their needs in more detail.

On arrival, meet with the friendly staff member first to familiarise yourselves with the area and the team will finalise details for the most memorable experience. Gently-spoken Santa can either greet you in his low-lit Grotto or come outside for a more relaxed chat. They can be seated at a distance in the Grotto or even sit on the floor rather than in his chair. Visiting Santa is a magical experience for everyone, but Matlock Farm Park want to make sure they tailor your visit to your own needs. Your loved one will also be able to select a gift of their choosing from Santa, with sensory items available.

The Park has also included their transition room again this year to provide you and your loved one a calm, safe and inviting atmosphere before or after you visit Santa. As well as this, you will also have the chance for a special one-to-one small animal petting session before meeting Santa Claus.

You may prefer to purchase tickets for our Santa’s Grotto Christmas Experience, which is available on other dates. However, these sessions will be busier, noisier and have less time with Santa. The Autism Friendly Santa sessions are designed for loved ones who prefer a calmer experience.

Siblings are welcome – please book a child ticket and add a note in the information box provided. (Under 2 siblings with paying child and adult ticket holders go free, without a gift).

What does your ticket include?

• Entry to the Farm Park for the whole day! You can arrive and leave at any time during our opening hours, the time you book is the time you will be booked to see Santa.
• Santa Claus encounter
• Private small animal petting
• Use of the sensory transition room
• Support of Autism trained staff
• Photo opportunities
• Gift for child/adult with Autism
• Free return pass for those attending

Breakfast with Santa

There is also the option to join Santa for breakfast at Matlock Farm Park, click here to find out more.

This event is organised by Matlock Farm Park. Events must be pre-booked here.