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View Santa's Theme Park pictures and plan your visit to this fun holiday event in Phoenix, Arizona! Updated March 12, 2008. Links: HOME :: Latest News :: Wild Winter Nights :: Santa's Theme Park :: Santa's Theme Park PicturesRides, Shows, Lights, Decorations and Santa Claus await you at Santa's World in Phoenix, Arizona!
Santa's Theme Park is a fairly new annual Christmas tradition in Phoenix, Arizona. Starting just 2 years ago for Christmas 2005, this "carnival on steroids" is a place for riding rides, viewing light displays and holiday vignettes, watching shows, and celebrating the season with your family. Also known as Santa's World, Santa's Park, or even Santa's Club, this is the 3rd year of a very popular new attraction in Phoenix metro area. On this page, you can see photos of Santa's Theme Park, and learn more about this Arizona holiday event held at the Firebird Raceway, just south of Ahwatukee at Interstate 10's Wild Horse Pass exit. Santa's Theme Park -- Rides
Santa's Theme Park really isn't a theme park, at least not in the traditional sense. A theme park stays in one place. It's rides don't have to be set up and taken down frequently, so a true theme park often has rides that are different from what you'd find at a traveling carnival.
Santa's Theme Park is a carnival. Therefore, you should expect the same type of rides that you'd find at other traveling carnivals or at the State Fair. You'll find a good selection at Santa's Park, though. For children, you'll find quite a few kiddie rides. For teens and adults, you'll find a selection of thrill rides. Even though Santa's theme park is a temporary carnival, it is a very well-done example of this type of attraction. Having to pay an admission fee to enter ensures that nobody comes just to "hang out." The atmosphere is family-oriented...and, indeed, many greater Phoenix families come to Santa's World to enjoy the rides, the decorations and one another's company. 
In the picture to your left, you see the Drop Tower ride, a popular thrill ride for older kids and adults. Riders are hoisted to the top of the tower, and then come zooming down in a free-fall. In the photo to your right, you see one of the park's 3 rides featuring giant wheels. This one is called the Century Wheel. Riders take a pleasant spin in gondola style cars...enjoying views of Santa's Park and of Interstate 10, which runs alongside of it.
In the picture to your left, you're viewing the beautiful swing ride meant for older kids and adults. Though the ride isn't particularly scary, the risk of falling out makes the swing ride unsuitable for small children.
In the picture to your right, you can see the scariest of the three "wheel" rides: the Sky Diver. Ride cars on the Sky Diver are fully enclosed...and that's because you'll be turning upside down and whirling around as the big wheel spins! All "mechanical rides" come included with the price of admission. This means, basically, once you've paid your admission fee, you won't have to pay any extra to have a full afternoon or evening of fun...unless you WANT to.
For those seeking "something different," there ARE some extra-pay rides. There's a mechanical bull, for example. There are bungee trampolines and a rock climbing wall. There's a fun house and house of mirrors. For the adventuresome, there are camel rides and elephant rides...all for an extra fee. To your left, you can see part of the Mark 1 Roller Coaster, a popular ride with thrill-lovers. Though the steepness of the drops aren't as great as theme park roller coasters have, the Mark 1 Coaster does manage to get some good speed going, and the sharp curves pack a punch. 
To your right, you see the Grand Wheel, an attraction that gives Santa's Theme Park a great deal of pride. Why? Because, they say, it is one of the biggest Ferris Wheels in the USA. Riders sit in gondola-style cars. Some of the cars are completely encaged...which is the type of car you should choose if you have little ones. No need to fear that they'll suddenly stand up and fall out; the caged cars are safe and completely protected from this.
Animal attractions & extra-fee rides
In additions to the many rides which come included with your admission, there are opportunities to enjoy "extra fee" activities, if you'd like.
You may ride a camel or elephant for an extra fee! Since you may not always find this opportunity elsewhere, these may be attractions for which you'd like to spend a bit extra. To your left, you see a picture of a camel taking its turn "resting" while a different camel is giving rides to the guests. You may enjoy taking a look at the camels "for free." You'll also find a little petting zoo nearby, where you can walk in to show your children various barnyard animals...and, perhaps, buy a few food pellets from a gumball-style machine so the kids can feed them. Other extra-fee rides at Santa's Theme Park include such things as fun houses (there are several) and activities such as jumping on "bungee trampolines." Santa's Theme Park -- Many shows to see!
You'll choose from a variety of live shows to enjoy when you visit Santa's Theme Park!
The assortment of shows includes animal acts, circus shows, and comedy routines. The schedule of showtimes is not posted ahead of time, so as you walk through Santa's Theme Park, you'll want to make note of showtimes posted beside the various stages and other locations where shows will be held. When you notice one that you don't want to miss, you'll know exactly when to return to that spot. To your left, you can see a picture of the Wild West Follies, which is a comedic routine taking place on a Western-style set. As the family-friendly jokes fly, certain "western elements" (like whip snapping, for example) enter into the routine. This seemed to be a popular show with the crowd; for this performance, the bleachers filled up and there was "standing room only" around the edge of the seating area. 
Another show that garnered a big crowd was the Flores Circus Thrill Show. One circus act after another seemed to keep the audience mesmerized.
In the photo to your right, you see one of the performers going through a hoop-twirling routine. Directly before she took the stage, a man did stunts high in the air on a round, moving platform.
Santa's Theme Park -- Decorations!
One good reason to visit Santa's Theme Park is for the many decorations and Christmas lights that you may enjoy.
Though the decorations are cute by day, after dusk is when Santa's World comes "alive" with thousands of colorful Christmas lights. They're everywhere! First, you'll enter this family attraction through a brightly lighted "tunnel" (see picture of Santa's Theme Park tunnel of lights in the section below.) After you enter the attraction, there's so many more lights and displays to see. You'll see Christmas lights on Christmas trees...and also in palm trees, decorative garlands, and in lighted holiday scenes. As you walk through the midway, you'll pass as many beautiful (and/or whimsical) lighting displays and holiday vignettes as you will carnival rides and attractions!
Though most of the decorations at Santa's Theme Park are non-secular, there are a couple of religious displays which give nod to the reason why the Christmas holiday is celebrated in the first place.
Above, you see a picture of the manger scene at Santa's Theme Park...which is part of a larger setting showing shepherds, wise men, animals, and people coming to pay a visit to the baby Jesus. To your right, you see a picture of the Virgen de Guadalupe, which is part of a larger shrine at the attraction. Both of these religious attractions can be seen in the area near where Santa Claus sits for children to visit him...approximately halfway down the midway. 
Santa's Theme Park: Maps, Directions, Contact Info
Santa's Theme Park phone number: 1-888-PHX-SANTAS.
Santa's Theme Park address at the Firebird Raceway is: 20000 Maricopa Road Phoenix, AZ 85226. Directions to Santa's Theme Park (AKA Santa's World): From Interstate 10, take the Wild Horse Pass Blvd exit and head west. Follow the seasonally-posted signs to the entrance. Since Santa's Park is plainly visible from the freeway, this is not a difficult location to find. You may use the following Google map to the Firebird Raceway to help you find your way. Dates of Santa's Theme Park: For the 2007 Christams season, Santa's Park will operate between November 21, 2007 and Sunday, January 6, 2008. At first, Santa's World will not open every day of the week. Between November 21st and December 19th, Santa's Theme Park will only be open Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Then, daily operation begins December 20th and continues through January 6th. Ticket Prices for Santa's Theme Park: Adult admission tickets cost $19.95; kids from age 3 through age 9 cost $14.95. All "mechanical rides" and all shows come included in this price, which works out to be a good value because of the many attractions offered within the park. Parking is additional; the official website says it's only $5 for "regular" parking and $10 for VIP parking, but those prices are outdated. In 2007, they're charging $10 for regular parking and $15 for VIP parking. Santa's Theme Park Website: You will want to read through the event's official website if you'd like to see a list of rides and find out still further information. You may use the following link to see the Santa's Theme Park official website, which is www.VisitSantas.com.
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