originally posted on 1/13/2025
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
What’s a coaster enthusiast to do once their regional parks close down for the winter? If they had access to Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire, they could have attended Coasting Towards Christmas on November 16, 2024.
Attendees went above and beyond, bringing 132 toys for the local Toys 4 Tots drive.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
When planning the event with park owner and general manager Christian Gainer, ACE New England was asked to consider bringing a toy for the local Toys 4 Tots drive. The response to this simple request? The 112 attendees donated 132 toys! Gainer also informed the region that all the event registration fees collected ($2,240) would go to the toy drive.
ACEers, along with their families and friends, arrived at 9 a.m. to check in for the event, bundled up for the cold and ready to ride coasters. Ride coasters in New England in November? Yes!
Having retired Rudy’s Rapid Transit last year, the park sought out coaster manufacturers that could offer a new coaster that would run in the cold. Vekoma took on the challenge with a steel family coaster. At 41 feet tall, and with a length of 1,148.3 feet, it’s just the right size and length (and speed – 24.9 mph) for the target group of 3 to 12 year olds (as well as “big kids” of all ages). Minimum height to ride alone is 48 inches, and just 36 inches when accompanied by someone 16 years or older.
ACEers enjoyed Midnight Flyer — the park’s replacement for its retired Rudy’s Rapid Transit.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
Just prior to 10 a.m., Gainer led attendees up to the new-for-2024 Midnight Flyer for one hour of ERT, stopping along the way for hot chocolate and Mini Doe-nuts.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
The queue to the station passes under the lift hill. Sitting on the bright green track is a midnight blue train that holds 20 passengers in 10 cars. On the back of the last car, a mischievous elf has grabbed on for an impromptu ride. After securing a comfortable, inverted “J” lap bar, an announcement is made that the train will make two circuits. Anyone wishing to get off after the first circuit should give a “thumbs-down” signal as they come into the station, and the ride operator will bring the train to a stop (then continue on for those wishing to get the second circuit).
The ride on Midnight Flyer is very smooth with gentle drops and curves. Lateral Gs are surprisingly strong on a couple of those curves, even though the top speed is under 25 mph.
Access to Reindeer Rendezvous was granted to attendees before opening to the general public.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
Approximately 20 minutes prior to the end of ERT, attendees were permitted to head to the extremely popular Reindeer Rendezvous barn to visit the animals before the general public entered the park.
With nothing scheduled until the 2 p.m. Q&A in the Polar Theater, attendees were free to enjoy all Santa’s Village had to offer. Crowds were relatively light in the early part of the day, so many of the rides, activities and dining options could be enjoyed without extremely long lines.
At the Q&A, Gainer welcomed the attendees with great enthusiasm. He loves ACE and ACEers and offered up some park history, roughly outlined projects and plans for the future (no secrets were revealed) and took questions from the group. He had to leave early to catch a plane to Orlando (to attend IAAPA Expo), but before he could depart, ACE New England’s Assistant Rep Matt Shostak presented Gainer with a little surprise. ACE was donating $1,000 in Santa’s Village’s name to Morgan’s Wonderland, the world’s first accessibility-focused theme park in San Antonio, Texas. Founded in 2010, the park is designed with individuals with special needs in mind.
Santa’s Village came to life with holiday cheer after the sun went down.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
Photo: Scott Conley. View full-sized image.
With the Q&A over, it was time to get back to the fun of the park, which had occasional light sprinkles of snow during the day. Late afternoon brought darkness early, making the park environment extra magical with all the lighting and holiday displays. An informal takeover time of The Great Humbug Adventure was scheduled for 4:30 (one of the longest lines in the park, and worth the wait).
The park’s enormous Christmas tree was a sight to behold thanks to its impressive lighting display.
Photo: Rus Ozana. View full-sized image.
Night rides on Midnight Flyer were extra magical, with a giant Christmas tree of animated lights making all sorts of holiday and seasonal patterns.
ACE New England extended its deepest thanks to Santa’s Village, its owners and staff, for hosting its first-ever event to be held in November!
— Rus Ozana, ACE New England Assistant Regional Representative
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