Snowflakes dangle from the classroom ceiling, glowing softly against a wall of twinkling fairy lights as mesmerised youngsters dressed in green and red tunics sit attentively at wooden desks.
Welcome to Elf School … but we’re not in Lapland. This merry band of helpers is about to graduate from the Kingdom Of The Elves in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, a long way from the Arctic Circle – and without the expense of air fares or the bother of travelling all that distance.
The new recruits have been put through their paces with tasks including helping Professor Stampalot fix magical letterboxes to allow children to send correspondence directly to Santa.
Armfuls of baubles have also been dispatched up strange pipes – sent urgently to provide Christmas decorations for homes.
Now it’s time to undergo one final test, known as the Believer’s Ball.
‘Do you believe?’ the head elf asks everyone. Each child then lifts their desk lid to reveal a magic button, which they push to indicate whether they are indeed a believer of Santa, before eagerly awaiting the overall verdict.
There is only going to be one answer here. ‘I believe!’ bellows around the room, much to the jubilation of all.
Nestled in 500 acres of pretty countryside, Bluestone National Park Resort has built a solid reputation as Wales’ answer to Center Parcs.
The Mail’s Heath Editor Kate Pickles headed to Bluestone National Park Resort in Wales for a winter break with her family
Every year the holiday park is transformed into Christmasland, complete with elves and Father Christmas himself
Nestled in 500 acres of countryside, the resort has built a solid reputation as Wales’ answer to Center Parcs
Each year, it transforms from a traditional holiday park into Christmasland, promising ‘festive magic packed into each corner of the kingdom’.
Any thoughts that mid-November is too early to be going full throttle into Yuletide are left at the gate at arrival.
Entering the site, we discover lodges decorated with lights and Christmas trees dotted here and there. It’s impossible not to get caught up in the festive cheer.
We’re staying in a luxurious, three-bedroom lodge – or ‘upside down house’ as my four-year-old, Sophie, calls it – in Merlin’s Crest.
The bedrooms and bathrooms are on the ground floor, while an open-plan lounge, kitchen and sunroom are upstairs, making the most of surrounding views.
The accommodation also comes with an electric buggy that transports us around the park to the likes of Rudolph’s Breakfast Barn and the Snow Globe.
Sophie and Jack (aged six) delight in spotting a giant inflatable snowman. Meanwhile, down in the ‘village’, the shop windows are dressed for Christmas and giant wicker reindeers pull Santa’s sleigh on the green.
The only potential spoiler of illusions is the unseasonably warm weather: a positively balmy 14C. But even this is soon glossed over with a foam ‘snowstorm’.
Children can give Santa Claus their hand-written letters directly to him during a 15-minute one-to-one session
Kate and her family stayed in a luxurious, three-bedroom lodge in Merlin’s Crest
The Serendome, a large indoor-outdoor area beneath a giant transparent dome, is transformed into a life-sized snow globe during the winter months.
This is one of the regular attractions, alongside the Blue Lagoon waterpark and Hive activity centre, which have all been given festive makeovers.
Children are provided with welcome packs upon arrival including a blank letter to be written and posted to Santa or given directly to him during a 15-minute one-to-one session.
That evening, we hit a traffic jam of buggies that turns out to have been caused by the man in red, who is waving enthusiastically from a festive float.
We wave back then book a slot at Santa’s Lodge, one of the activities people can add to their stay, a must for any Christmas mini-break.
When the big moment arrives, Santa’s helpers whisk us out of Serendome to an awaiting buggy, adding to the already high levels of excitement.
It’s a short journey full of more character-led cheer before we disembark in the grounds of his grotto.
‘Is this where Santa lives when he’s in Wales?’ asks Jack. The answer turns out to be: yes. Another elf is on hand to take us through a mini-maze to where Father Christmas is waiting.
There’s plenty of fun to be had with Christmas characters throughout the resort, including Santa’s helpers
Santa magically knows that Sophie has recently started swimming lessons and that Jack likes football (although he jokingly remarks that he ‘couldn’t support England here’).
Then it’s down to the important business of whether or not they have been good this year – they insist they have – and what they would like him to bring them (a football and a sparkly unicorn).
Each has to promise to leave a drink for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph – and that they’ll be asleep for his arrival.
Then they’re invited to choose a cuddly toy from a large basket. Both leave assured that their requests have been delivered. ‘I asked him for a unicorn and wrote it in a letter so he knows,’ Sophie says, sounding confident all will be OK.
It’s been a resounding success. We’ve only travelled 200 miles, rather than 2,000 to the ‘real’ Lapland – and saved a packet, too.
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