The History Museum's Fantasyland in Roanoke

When I was a kid, I remember going to Fantasyland around the holidays.  It was on the top floor of the old Heironomus building in downtown Roanoke, and you walked through paths to see tons of lifesized statues of elves and animals in snowy wonderlands.  The grand hurrah when you came to the end was a visit with Santa himself. 

Today, Fantasyland is in the History museum, which is in a different locale than the usual digs, due to the renovation of Center in the Square.  I took the boys because I'd heard such praise from Pierce's principal and one of the secretaries at his school.  They went on and on about how wonderful it is.

 The reason Fantasyland was so amazing wasn't because of all the decorations or all the things to see.  It was because of Santa himself.  He was the real deal.  Fantasyland in the History Museum is more of a show, where kids sit on a rug around Santa while he chats casually with them, plays the guitar and sings songs, and reads them a story about Rudolph's sister, Holly (did you know she has a green nose?).  The program runs about 45 minutes, and during that time you feel like you and Santa are lifelong best buddies, reunited for the first time in a year.

All the other kids there were spellbound in quiet during Santa's performance.  But not my inquisitive Pierce.  He kept raising his hands with questions.

• Santa, why are you not wearing your red suit?
• Santa, do the reindeer talk to each other the same way that humans do?
• Santa, how come you don't wrap all the presents that you deliver?
• Santa, were you a baby at some point?

Needless to say, Pierce's philosophic questions got a few chuckles from parents in the crowd, and I myself couldn't stop smiling in amusement.

The thing that struck me most about this Santa was how deepfelt and caring he was.  He spoke frequently about the importance of kindness to others, giving hugs, and how to make someone sad feel better.  He had the most tender and loving voice, and I adored how he was able to portray the emotions of giving back to these young children. 

So if you head to Fantasyland in Roanoke this year, don't expect to be wowed by various displays and decorations, but instead expect to leave with a warmed heart and a new inspired hope for humanity.  Just the way the holiday season should be.  Thank you, dear Santa.