Santa’s arrival kicks off festive fun at St. John’s Garden Centre

North Devon is gearing up for a Christmas treat as Santa arrives in style at St. John's Garden Centre tomorrow, Friday 29 November.

Thanks to a partnership between Petroc College and St. John’s, this festive event promises to bring magic to families across the region.

Santa will be taking a break from his reindeer and arriving in a horse-drawn cart, winding his way through the town to St. John’s, where a night of family fun awaits.

The festivities will feature a range of free entertainment, including the Snow Queen, Captain Coconut, and Merlin from Britain’s Got Talent, as well as face-painting and the chance to contribute to the Christmas Wish Tree.

The event is the result of hard work from Petroc's T-Level Business Management and Administration students, who have been helping to plan and organise the evening. Joanne Goodreid, course leader, said: “When I approached St. John’s about the possibility of my students supporting them with a project I never imagined they would be so involved. They all visited St. John’s as children, so to be part of their Christmas offering is special.”

Student Anosh Kavalakkal Antony also shared his experience: “Every individual in our team had different tasks related to the Christmas project. I was also able to link my experience with my college coursework, which helped me gain confidence moving forward.”

The fun continues tomorrow, Saturday 30 November, with families invited to visit Santa’s grotto, hidden through a magical ‘winter Jungleland’. Children will encounter festive animals, sparkling lights, and winter scenes on their way to meet Santa himself.

Santa will be staying for the weekend of 30 November and 1 December, returning daily from 7 December until Christmas Eve. After the popularity of previous years, Petroc students have introduced an online booking system, ensuring no child misses out on the magic of Santa’s grotto. Every child will receive a traditional gift and a Christmas tree seedling to take home.

Mark Toon, Director of St. John’s, expressed his excitement for the event: “Christmas is always a special time at St. John’s and our tradition of hosting family-orientated events is one we are more than happy to continue, especially in collaboration with the PETROC students this year. Santa’s arrival will be spectacular for 2024 and many children are looking forward to seeing him.”

To book a visit to Santa’s grotto, head to the St. John’s website.