Registration is now open for Santa Gathering 2024!
The Santa Gathering is held at the Doubletree Resort by Hilton, 2400 Willow Street Pike, Lancaster, PA from September 4th through the 8th. This is our largest event of the year with classes, excursions, activities, entertainment & banquets, vendor room shopping, and socializing time.
Excursions & Activities
Sight & Sound Theatre, Thursday, September 5th
300 Hartman Bridge Road Ronks, PA 17572
Arrive by car or carpool by 2:00 PM
For this optional excursion, we are going to the Sight & Sound Theatre to see their 2024 production of Daniel. Tickets are $85 and limited to 100 participants. No reservations will be taken after we reach this limit, or after July 30th, whichever comes first. Please order early from our Payment & Checkout page if you want to go.
Sight & Sound’s motto is “Where the Bible comes to life!” Its entertainment is designed to be universally appealing – regardless of age, life experience, or previous exposure to the Bible. As a family-owned, family-led company, their desire is to see families and friends come together for a shared experience that leaves them with a lifetime memory. Their unique theater experience begins with a 2,000 seat auditorium, a 300-ft stage that surrounds the audience on three sides, a cast of 50 actors, state-of-the-art technology, and live animals.
Dutch Wonderland, Saturday, September 7th
2249 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA
Website: www.dutchwonderland.com
Arrive by car or carpool by 9:15 AM
Since opening on May 20, 1963, Dutch Wonderland has consistently been recognized as a premier family theme park near Philadelphia, PA and has been voted one of the Top 5 Best Kids Parks in the World by Amusement Today magazine. We invite you to plan a visit to find out why generations of families have visited us and proclaimed us to be A KINGDOM FOR KIDS!
I don’t know of a better way to wind down then to be at Dutch Wonderland and seeing children’s eyes as we enter the park, and not only theirs but also the parents, and make our way to the Train. It is so cool to see the Santas and Mrs. Clauses take their seats and ride the train around the park. This will be our eighth year and it is still as wonderful as the first. After the train ride we will tour the park, sit on a bench and greet the children or climb into a bumper car and I can tell you the kids love it.
Cost: Included with registration fee.
Fashion Show
Santa Clauses, Mrs. Clauses, and all other Christmas performers, we welcome you to be part of our annual Fashion Show. It’s a time to show off your Christmas finery! Search your closets and creative minds for your best and funniest Christmas outfits and bring them with you. The Fashion Show is held every year on Saturday night. Questions? Please write to us at SantaGathering25@gmail.com.
Training Classes
- 4 Functions of Behaviors and How to Deal with Them – Ken Baker
- Brain Awareness and Staying Sharp – Jill Kaylor, Visiting Angels
- Child Development – How this helps our performance – Nick Gillotte, Saint Nick
- Create Your Own Centerpiece Class ($20, pre-egistration required) – Nancy Hopkins
- Easy Pocket Magic for Santa, Mrs. Claus, Elves – Steve Kissell
- Enhancing Your Santa Visit Using Simple Techniques – George McCleary
- Fun & Games with the Clauses – Wendy Leonard & Brian Marchetti
- Home Visits – Mitch Allen, HireSanta
- Living Wills, Advanced Directives, Choosing a POA – Jill Kaylor, Visiting Angels
- Magic with the Clauses – Duffy & Sparkles (aka, Mike & Nina)
- Magical Storytelling with Santa – Chris Burton
- Make your own beard balm demonstration & sample – Paul Agrusti
- Mrs. Claus & Elves Roundtable Discussion – Wendy Leonard
- Overview & History of ‘twas the Night Before Christmas – Pamela McColl, Author
- Quitter: Closing the Gap Between Your Day Job and Your Dream Job – Ken Baker
- Santa Roundtable Discussion – Ken Baker
- Stretch Something Different with Laughter Yoga – Bill Schober
- Tax Q & A – Ann Donley & George Grasic
- The Life & Work of a Performing Elf – Phineus T Elf (Myke Hutchings)
- What’s in Mrs. Claus’s Bag – Judy Maynard
- Working with Mr. & Mrs. – Duffy & Sparkles (aka, Mike & Nina)
Santa Bill Neely and Mrs. Claus Alana Neely
Excursion & Activities Coordinators