Christmas at Saunders Farm - Light & Sound Show (Nightly Drive-Through)

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel. During the summer, when there isn’t a pandemic, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival. During the winter (when it’s not a pandemic), a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.

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Everyone will be celebrating Christmas in a different manner this year.  Different doesn’t mean a person cannot have fun and create new traditions.   In keeping with this idea,  our family decided to check out the Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through show at Saunders Farm.  

Like many families,  we have been to Saunders Farm too many times to count.  I was curious to see how they would change the farm into a winter wonderland.   Upon arrival,  I could see they had delivered on all fronts.  The road leading into the farm looked like the set of a Hallmark Christmas movie.   There was a firepit where families could warm up along with a food stand where it was possible to purchase seasonal treats.  

We were there to experience the drive-through show.   That area was also festively decorated.   Perhaps more than the decorations,  I appreciated the short wait time to enter the attraction.  The ticket was a timed entry ensuring that there were not any hour long waits or a snake line of vehicles idling away.   

The drive-through route follows the same route as the Halloween haunted wagon ride.   I will not give anything away but it was fun to see how some of the Halloween scares had been transformed for Christmas. We set our car radio to an FM station that had an endless loop of holiday songs.   Of course,  Mariah Carey was one of the featured artists.    Holiday Light and Sound Drive-Through

We were blown away by all the lights and Christmas set pieces.   The lighting effects were far beyond anything I expected.   There were plenty of lit up reindeer and trees.   My favourite were the snow globes at the end.   

We drove through at ten kilometres an hour and the entire experience lasted about twenty to twenty five minutes.    It was so good I would have been willing to pay again to do the drive a second time.   

As mentioned,  it was an option to stop after and enjoy a treat while warming up by the firepit.   The farm shop also is open selling items like pre-cut Christmas trees and wreaths.  

We did not stay as it had already been a full day but would do so next time.  

While the light show was outstanding perhaps the thing I was most grateful for was just the sense of normalcy even for a short period of time.  We were a family enjoying a family activity and not worrying about the current situation.  

That is not to say there were any shortcuts for health protocols.  All staff were wearing masks and everyone was socially distanced. We felt very safe from the moment we arrived to departure.

Post-COVID,  I hope Saunders Farm will continue the Country Christmas Nighttime Experience. I could see this becoming a  yearly tradition for many families, including ourselves.

Saunders Farm  also offers a daytime experience where you can visit a Christmas market,  enjoy many outdoor attractions like the hedge mazes and buy a pre-cut Christmas tree.  Of course, it is important to follow all COVID-19 protocols and check the Saunders Farm website for any changes.   

For more information, visit www.saundersfarm.com.

Disclaimer: Stephen and his family were provided free entry but all opinions are my own.

Glow Ottawa - A Visit to Glow Gardens

KITC would like to welcome back, guest blogger, Stephen Johnson. Stephen Johnson is an Ottawa writer who loves to write about family travel.  During the summer, you will most likely find him and his family at a local fair or festival.  During the winter, a beach in Mexico is a likely bet.  

Christmas may be my favourite time of year. Between all the holiday traditions and of course, the cookies, what is there not to like.

This year, our family found a new way to celebrate the season. We visited Glow Gardens at the EY Centre. 

Being the first year for Glow Gardens in Ottawa, I was not sure what to expect. We picked up our tickets and entered the hall. We were treated to a visual feast for the eyes. There were sparkling lights everywhere.

The first thing we saw was an illuminated moose. Being from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, I needed to have my photo taken with the moose. My son, David and wife, Sandy also got a snapshot. 

Glow Gardens features much more than just life-sized creatures of the Canadian forest. The main premise of Glow Gardens is a visit to six different countries, China, India, France, Netherlands, Mexico and the United Kingdom. There are amazing light exhibits themed around each country. For instance, there is a spectacular Taj Mahal for India and a windmill for the Netherlands. Everyone is also given a passport where they can collect stamps from each country. Collect all six stamps and there is a prize at the end. 

With passports in hand, China was our first stop. David wanted to have his photo taken next to the traditional Chinese architectural arch. Equally important was to get our first passport stamp. 

Over the course of the next several hours, we were able to visit all six countries and collected all the stamps. The light displays for each country were truly memorable. My personal favourite was the windmill from the Netherlands while Sandy loved the pinãta from Mexico.

Besides the various country displays, Glow Gardens has many interactive light displays perfect for any Instagrammer. We explored the hanging light gardens and got a family photo in the oversized letter o saying JOY. 

Being so close to Christmas, you would expect there to be displays based around Christmas. Glow Gardens did not disappoint. There was a huge snowman that David could fit inside. There was also a huge Christmas tree made out of gifts. 

Now that David is eleven, his interests are certainly different than when he was four. The papa in me still has an eye on what there is for young kids to do at an event. There were plenty of activities geared towards young kids at Glow Gardens. There was a huge playground with slides, a small train (that actually ran on time and worked!), LED swings and hopscotch, and a chance to visit Santa. 

Adults were well-served as well. There was a licensed area where you could purchase adult beverages. My favourite was the glow in the dark light bulbs that also doubled as beverage glasses. We purchased three non-alcoholic cranberry mocktails. Food could also be purchased on-site. 

The day we visited Glow Gardens, your ticket gave you access to the Originals Christmas Craft show. Craft shows are normally not my thing but I have a new respect and appreciation after visiting. There were vendors selling a wide assortment of handmade crafts and products. David and I loved all the free food samples. Some were so tasty that we purchased the product. 

Soon enough, it was time to head back home to do our own Christmas decorating. I could see Glow Gardens becoming a part of our annual Christmas traditions just like those cookies.

Glow Gardens will be running at the EY Centre until January 4th. I have a feeling this will be a very popular event in Ottawa so it may be wise to purchase tickets online, in advance. Also, check their website for exact hours. For all information visit, www.glowgardens.com

Full disclosure, we received free tickets but all views are my own.

Our Favourite Holiday Traditions

Every family has their special way of celebrating the holidays. From favourite movies and songs on the radio, to family gatherings and special presents, traditions help create lasting memories for children.

The Kids in the Capital team is excited to share some of our favourite Christmas traditions with you, and we've invited our holiday campaign sponsors to join in!

Misty

Growing up, my mom would buy my brother and me a children's book each year, and sign the inside with a quote or message. Now I have a huge stack of books that I read to my own children. I cherish these books so much!

Other family traditions included watching the BBC's "A Child's Christmas in Whales" and tracking Santa's progress on the radio.

Lara

"Each child receives a Christmas ornament every year, so they'll have a collection when they move out. Each ornament commemorates things they liked that year."

Tracy

"Every Christmas morning we check outside to see if Santa's reindeers left any hoof prints in the snow... which they always do (and they often look a lot like a horseshoe)." ;)

Here are some holiday traditions from our Holiday Giveaway sponsors: 

Saunders Farm

"While not open to the public anymore, Saunders Farm once housed a cut-your-own Christmas tree farm. Hundreds of guests would visit us each December for a chilly hayride to find their perfect tree, and then enjoy some hot chocolate by the bonfire in our 180-year-old Log Barn. Cutting Christmas trees is our favourite holiday tradition!"

Patti, Tag Along Toys

"We always let our son open one gift the night before Christmas and it is always a new pair of pajamas and a book."

Ooka Island

"A favourite holiday tradition is gifting each child in our lives a classic hardcover children's book for Christmas and writing an inscription on the inside along with the date." 

Canadian Museum of Nature

"We love hiding tiny reindeer in the exhibits during the holiday season. Fun for the kids to find!"

The holiday season is full of so many traditions including putting up Christmas lights, baking and, of course, quality family time. The Kids in the Capital team also seemed to share similar traditions, such as opening the gift of pyjamas on Christmas Eve.

What are your family traditions? Leave a comment and let us know!

This post is part of our 2016 Holiday Campaign, with support from Tag Along Toys, The Canadian Museum of Nature, Saunders Farm and Ooka Island. Make sure to enter our giveaway!