The Magic Returns!

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Popular outdoor retailer, Bass Pro Shops presents their third annual "Santa's Wonderland -- A Classic Christmas" -- an event that has already become a family Christmas tradition.  This year, the magic returns with Santa's arrival, Saturday, November 6th at 5pm.  Families can enjoy the wonder of Christmas inside every Bass Pro Shops store with "Santa's Wonderland" -- an over 3,500-square foot Christmas village chocked full of fun games, activities and crafts for the whole family -- from November 6th through December 24th.  

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"It reminds you of the old times, like in the movies; everyone is interacting and having a good time... it gets you in the spirit!" says Barry Martin of Springfield, Missouri after visiting the Santa's Wonderland event last year at the Bass Pro Shops in Springfield.  

Angela Ferguson, a customer at the store in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma said regarding her visit, "Definitely tell people to come see Santa's Wonderland 'cause there's a lot of stuff for the kids to do, and they love it a lot and it's free!"

Comprised of both animated and live elves, nutcrackers, reindeer and more, the village offers a Lionel® old-time model train area, remote control trucks, a Red Ryder® laser arcade, a Nerf® soft gun range and slot car racing.  Kids can also play the hottest new video games of the season with The Strike™ and The Hunt™.  They'll love the activity tables where they can write a letter to Santa, color and do fun crafts every weekend--all absolutely free. New this year, a fun, different Santa Bandz bracelet will be offered every week to the first 150 kids who visit Santa's Wonderland on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only from 5-7pm.  Of course, Santa will be in residence there throughout the season.

Always a family tradition, customers can get a free 4x6 photo with Santa and his reindeer from 5pm to 8pm Monday through Friday, Saturday's 10am to 8pm and Sunday's noon to 5pm with extended hours beginning December 13th. Photo and gift packages will also be available. If the line is long, they can just grab a Bass Pass and their appointment with Santa is set.

Every weekend from 12 to 5 pm beginning November 7th through December 19th,  and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, November 9th through December 23rd from 5-7pm,  kids can take part in the time-honored traditions of making crafts and holiday ornaments.  They can do a fun elf mask, construct a snowman suncatcher, and make great ornaments out of fishing bobbers, popsicle sticks and more—even decorate . Christmas cookies December 21st-23rd.   Again, it's all free! A complete schedule of activities and times will be available at Santa's Wonderland or visit www.basspro.com and click on your local store.

Bass Pro Shops stores will kick off the Christmas season with a special Preview Night Saturday, November 6th from 5pm to 8pm. Local children's groups and others will be singing Christmas carols in front of the store and customers will be treated to hot chocolate and cookies.  Santa arrives at 5pm in a Tracker® boat pulled by a Toyota Tundra truck or Cub Cadet ATV.

Kids will be invited to help Santa, through a little magic, light up the outside of the store, a big Christmas tree in the main entrance and then on into the store for the unveiling of Santa's Wonderland.  Santa will also be giving away $25 Bass Pro Shops gift cards to one lucky winner every half hour.  Kids can kick off the season by coloring stockings and the first 150 kids to visit Santa's Wonderland will receive a Santa Bandz bracelet!

Bass Pro Shops also has big plans for Black Friday. The 4th Annual Great Turkey Campout begins at 5pm Thanksgiving Day.  Customers are invited to bring their tents and camp out all night on the parking lot so they can be one of the first in line to enter the store the next morning. They can enjoy hot chocolate, coffee and s'mores from 5pm – 8pm around the fire pits and there will be special drawings for prizes.

Return to the Christmas feeling you remember as a kid, return to "Santa's Wonderland" at Bass Pro Shops and begin your own family tradition you are sure to remember for a lifetime.  (For a video/cd or images from last year's event, please contact Jenna Kendall at 417-873-5059, Katie Mitchell at 417-873-5618 or Larry Whiteley at 417-873-5022.  Media may also visit www.basspro.com/santamedia for a complete photo package, video and event logo.)

About Bass Pro Shops Group:

Bass Pro Shops -56 retail stores in 26 states and Canada visited by over 109 million people annually, international catalog and internet retailing, American Rod & Gun wholesale division selling to over 7,000 independently owned retail stores worldwide, Outdoor World Incentives also selling Bass Pro Shops gift cards through over 132,000 retail outlets across America and a restaurant division with 26 locations.  For more information regarding Bass Pro Shops store locations, products or special events, please visit www.basspro.com.  To request a free catalog call 1-800-BASS PRO.

Tracker Marine Group – Manufactures and sells Tracker, Nitro, SunTracker, Tahoe, Grizzly and Mako boats through Bass Pro Shops retail stores and over 400 dealers worldwide.  Visit www.trackerboats.com

Resort Group – Big Cedar Lodge and other resort properties including restaurants and golf course. Visit www.bigcedar.com for more information.

SOURCE Bass Pro Shops