If you forgot to send a letter to St. Nick, there’s a way you can get your last-minute Christmas wishes heard — Santa’s Elevator Express™ at the Natick Mall in greater Boston, Massachusetts.
To make the journey to meet Father Christmas, young children and their parents enter a small structure built to resemble an elevator. Once inside, a single pushbutton activates screens on the walls, displaying graphics that give the illusion of the lift ascending. At the “top,” the screen reveals a home, suggesting that travelers have made it to the North Pole. A push of a doorbell and the wall opens to reveal a room where Santa is waiting to say hello and pose for photos. When it’s time to leave, guests return to the elevator, and the graphics show the elevator’s descent.
Santa’s Elevator Express was crafted by Montreal, Canada-based Studio Artefact, a company that developers interactive and immersive themed experiences for a broad client base. Videos of the Natick Mall’s “Santa Elevator” have made waves on social media and generated considerable interest in the attraction.
This year, tickets went on sale on September 1 and were completely sold out by November 6. Walk-ups are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. But beware — the mall website warns that wait times could range from 2-5 h. Photo packages cost between $40-50, and the final day for the experience is December 24.
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