The klub 17 portable game
Things like buy 2 feed cups get one free which would have made sharing a little easier. THIS is where you pull out that map because there are actually COUPONS on them that we should have used. The kids loved the aviary where they could feed the birds (my sister paid so I'm not sure what the peanut butter sticks cost) and the barn yard where you could hand feed a camel, goats, sheep, a donkey - etc. You are surrounded by charming buildings that some have been painted and beautifully restored to others that haven't seen a power washer in a decade. We then went on several rides that range in quality from permanent with beautiful bricked entrance paths to held together with paperclips and operated with everyone from seasoned operators to kids who could barely keep their eyes open while the ride spun in front of them. A+ on his Cubs hat and he was adorable with the children. First stop was Santa who was out of his house greeting children. You will turn right and enter the (mostly) beautiful park. Once you stand in front of the entrance "huts" and digest the affront of signage, capital letters, rainbow words and repetitive information, (and wait ten years in line because they can't get the groupons to scan) you will be issued a wristband and a map - don't loose that map (more on that later) - and ushered through a hallway through a building that runs you smack dab into the outer wall of what used to be a Polar Dome (thank you, Wikipedia) but is now really a wall of advertising. However - this new "branding" is amateurish at best and the over abundance of rainbow graphics, tye-dye backgrounds and font-palooza makes the whole thing look like a high school graphics class gone bad. I'm a preservationist and I know thousands of suburban kids have many fond memories. I'm happy to see that Santa's Village was saved. Let me explain and hopefully I won't come off as a snob. The overall feel is not quite kitchy - a little more on tacky side- but could be so adorable given the beautiful buildings and tree lined walkways.
The park was decorated for Halloween and with all the corn stalks decorating every fence pole it really made the atmosphere pretty and the big huge trees make you feel like you're in a delightful setting instead of a county fair ground (except Sandwich fair - because they have the best fair grounds anywhere). I guess the bonus is you get to do both and again - beautiful setting. It's a bit pricey but kids were off for Columbus day and I found a groupon and even got a refund when my friends bought their tickets so it brought it down a bit, but even with the groupon $68 for 4 is a bit of a stretch for what amounts to a petting zoo and carnival in a beautiful setting.