And nothing captures that festive spirit quite like SantaLand.

Located between Sweet Tooth Candy Shoppe and Sunglass Hut in the heart of the district, SantaLand opens on Friday, November 24, the day after Thanksgiving. SantaLand, where children and families have the opportunity to chat and take a picture with Santa, is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 24-26, Dec. 1-3, Dec. 8-10, Dec. 15-17, and Dec. 21-23.

In addition to seeing old St. Nick, SantaLand is also home to the Tree of Joy, a project of the Rotary Club of Greater Bend, which provides holiday gifts for children and families in need.

Finally, don’t forget to bring your little one’s letter to Santa. A special North Pole Express Mailbox sits outside of SantaLand, and all letters will receive a handwritten response. (No postage stamp is required. If the child would like to receive a letter back, though, be sure to include a return address on the envelope.)