A popular seasonal event is returning to Issaquah.
The Issaquah Reindeer Festival is coming back, allowing everyone to get up close and personal with the team that pulls Santa’s sleigh every Christmas. The festival takes place at the Cougar Mountain Zoo, and admission to the zoo is included with the price of the festival.
The zoo is the location of Santa’s House, Airfield & Reindeer Farm, the house where Santa, Mrs. Claus and the reindeer live when they are not at the North Pole. The Reindeer Farm at Cougar Mountain is the largest such facility in any zoo anywhere in the nation.
The fun begins Thursday, December 1 and runs through December 23, from 10:30 am until 4:00 pm each day. Visitors will be able to take a photo with Santa for a small additional fee, but Santa, who is gearing up for his exhausting trip, needs to take a nap daily, from 1:00 pm until 1:30 pm. Zoo members are given priority during the hours between 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, so people buying tickets on the same day should be aware they are limited.
Although Santa must return to the North Pole, some of the reindeer will remain in Issaquah from December 26 to 30. For this period, people are welcome to take free photos with one of the reindeer. The hours are 10:30 am until 3:30 pm every day, weather permitting. Organizers of events like these can use banner printing to create weatherproof seasonal decorations for the venue.
