Reindeer Magic 2025
Thank you for another great year! See You in 2026!
Bring the whole family to meet Santa and his Reindeer for a magical holiday experience! See real Reindeer, visit with Santa Claus, and enjoy festive family activities at this community-favorite holiday event at the Lake Oswego, Cedar Hills, and Vancouver Garden Centers! Additional vendor offerings include Santa photos, face painting, fresh food, sweet treats, warm beverages, and more.
Reindeer Magic FAQs
1. What happens if it’s raining or snowing the day of the event?
Reindeer Magic is on rain or shine! Please dress appropriately for the weather.
2. Can I change my tickets from the morning to afternoon session or vice versa?
Sure thing, just reply to your ticket confirmation email to request this change at least 48 hours before the event.
3. Do children get into the event for free?
Only children under the one year old get in free; all other children must have paid tickets for entry.
4. Can I purchase tickets at the door?
Yes, if we have capacity available, you may purchase tickets at the door. Please keep in mind that this event sells quickly, and you may have to wait in line depending upon your arrival time.
5. Are Santa photos included with my ticket?
No, Santa photos are not included in your ticket price; they are a separate fee.
6. Can I purchase Santa photos without buying event tickets?
No, you must purchase entry tickets for access to Santa photos.
Reindeer Magic is Real: How It All Began
Story by Nicole Forbes, Dennis’ 7 Dees Director of Education
It began with a small Reindeer Magic event years ago, when we thought it would be a fun addition to our holiday season to partner with a local reindeer farm and bring a few animals to the garden centers for the weekend.
Since that first event, we have continued to work with that same family farm and their lovely herd of domesticated reindeer. Although the event has now grown in popularity and expanded to include Santa, food carts, face painting, and more family fun, the spirit remains the same. It’s all about Reindeer Magic!
For most of the year, the reindeer at the farm spend their time eating, relaxing, and enjoying pasture time, but as the Christmas season approaches, their schedule gets pretty full with guest appearances all over the state! People of all ages marvel at their beauty and enjoy getting the chance to see these unique animals up close.
The reindeer handlers know the animals’ personalities very well and treat them with the same kindness we use with our own pets—humans and reindeer have been working together for more than 5,000 years! They might look similar to Caribou at first glance, but these domesticated reindeer have evolved along a different path from their Caribou cousins.
Here are a few fun facts about reindeer:
- Similar to a cow or horse, reindeer spend most of their time either eating or lying down with their friends in a herd.
- Both male and female reindeer grow and shed their antlers every year.
- Each individual animal has their own unique antler shape and design!
Several years ago during this event, I was witness to some real “Christmas Magic”. A group of children, maybe 9-10 years old, had gathered around the reindeer pen and were enjoying watching the animals when one boy noticed an older gentleman sitting nearby—he had white hair, a white beard, and glasses, and to keep warm, he had wrapped the demonstration reindeer hide around his shoulders. As the one boy pointed the man out to the other children, their faces lit up one by one, and before long none of the children could keep from staring. Whispers went around the pen that surely the man was Santa himself, keeping watch over his trusty herd of reindeer. And suddenly, most of the children were on their best behavior!
It is easy to find ourselves busy and stressed during this time of year, but it is also easy to find small joys and moments of true holiday magic if we just take some time to enjoy it! Happy Holidays!