Preview Of Macy's Eighth-Floor Holiday Display
With the holiday season in full swing, there's nothing more enjoyable than spending time with family. Whether it's indulging in a time-honored tradition or creating new memories, it is the experiences that make the holidays warm and bright. When making your plans, consider the kid friendly, annual Holiday Display on the 8th floor of the downtown Macy's. This free, festive display is family fun that can easily be combined with a viewing of the Holidazzle parade or a little holiday shopping.
Macy's 8th Eighth-Floor Holiday Display
700 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 375-2200
www.macys.com
Price: Santaland Display - Free; "Moose Crossing" Puppet Show - $4 adults/$10 children ages 3 and up/free children 2 and younger
Hours: Nov. 17 through Dec. 24, 2012
When Macy's 50th annual presentation of the Santaland holiday display opens on the eighth floor of the downtown Macy's, it will feel like the holidays have finally come to the Twin Cities. As Macy's Vice President of Special Productions, Mike Gansmoe notes "Macy's is really all about Santa at this time of the year" and this important annual production is an opportunity to be involved with the local community, share festive cheer and give a little back via the Make a Wish Foundation. There will be plenty to see and do during your visit, so be sure to plan for enough time and make sure your list for Santa is ready to go.
Things To See
The Santaland Holiday Display is jam packed with things to see and do. Visit Santa to tell him all of the things on your wish list and get your picture taken. Or, enjoy the traditional display explaining the typical "Day in the Life of the Elf." Gansmoe gave the inside scoop, explaining that it depicts a full elvish day - from the moment your elf friend wakes up to elf school and Santa's workshop. The kids will be enthralled! Don't forget to make time to stop by for fresh gingerbread and other favorite holiday treats at Mrs. Claus' Holiday Bakery on your way through the display. You can also get a head start on some holiday shopping with a visit to Santa's Toy Shop.
For a small ticketed fee, enjoy the "Moose Crossing" puppet show. Performed Thursdays through Sundays during the run of the holiday display, this original show is performed by local puppeteer group Woodland Puppets. This 25-minute show is a new twist for the Macy's display and the retailer is really looking forward to leveraging the great local artistic talent in the Twin Cities community to bring this unique experience to your holiday celebrations. Gansmoe describes the show as full of "old world charm," noting that it's an engaging, unique experience in a world driven by technology.
Best Times To Come
Take advantage of smaller crowds on weekday afternoons and make a day of enjoying the display and getting a bit of your holiday shopping done. If you are making a special day of it, consider combining it with the annual Holidazzle parade, running Thursdays through Sundays at 6:30 p.m. from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The Target-sponsored parade of lights is a downtown holiday staple and caps off an evening of holiday fun. Macy's also offers a breakfast with Santa on the weekends for an additional option. Breakfast starts at 9 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday from Dec. 1 through Dec, 23. Call 1 (877) 556-2297 to reserve your seat, as spots are limited. Breakfast is $17.95 per person or $13.95 for kids under 10.
Charitable Partnership
The concepts of holiday celebrations and traditon are deeply intertwined, and that's a connection that Macy's recognizes and values. In providing information for this preview, Gansmoe stated that for Macy's, "it's really about our communities. When it is important to our local communities, it's important for [us] to get behind it." In addition to the annual shows, Macy's makes good on that promise through its support of Make A Wish. For every letter mailed to Santa via the mailbox found in the 8th-floor display or in post boxes across Macy's stores nationwide, the retailer will donate $1 to the charitable foundation, up to $1 million - a goal that Macy's has never missed, Gansmoe proudly noted. Additionally, the Wishing Well, located in the display, encourages visitors to drop some spare change in and make a wish, where all money goes to the local chapter of the Make A Wish Foundation.
Sassy professional by day, men's style expert by night, Bethany Rein is a twenty-something living in Minneapolis. She loves baseball, coffee and the well-dressed male. An avid runner, Bethany also plays recreational sports with more enthusiasm than skill. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
