Santa Opens Workshop at Wickham Park

Many are familiar with the '70s Christmas commercial showing Santa Claus riding the head of a Norelco electric razor down a snowy hill. Today, that advertisement is considered a classic.

But more than 30 years ago, Jeff Maron saw it as a prime example of the ever-increasing commercialism of the holiday. Maron, who lives in Tolland and serves as the director of the non-profit Wickham Park, decided it was high time someone created a completely non-commercial Christmas experience.

Wickham Park encompasses 250 scenic acres on the Manchester and East Hartford town line. In the weeks leading up to Christmas day, a cedar log cabin perched on the highest point in the park is transformed into Santa's Workshop, complete with a workshop area, an electric train display and a 16-foot Christmas tree decorated in colorful ornaments and lights.

Santa's workshop quickly became a Maron family affair when Jeff invited his parents to play the parts of Santa and Mrs. Claus, roles the senior Marons reveled in for 20 years.

"Mom passed away a few years ago and Dad had a stroke shortly after, so 2007 ended up being their last year," said Maron.

Since then, Manchester resident Geraldine Cyr has taken on the role of Mrs. Claus.

"My son is a part-time employee at the park, and he asked me if I'd like to be Mrs. Claus," she said.

"I thought it might be fun, and it has been. It's like a family here," Cyr said.

Over the years, the workshop has also enlisted several high school students to work as Santa's elves, putting the finishing touches on Christmas toys.  Maron recalled the first year the workshop opened, when a newspaper story featured a photo of his then 18-month-old daughter offering Santa a shiny red apple. In their teens, Maron's daughter and son served stints as Santa's elves.

The workshop has been held annually for the last 30 years, with the exception of the year when the cabin burned down. Maron said it generally takes a week to get the whole place set up and decorated, with an average of four people working all day long.

"The whole purpose of this is to give people an old-fashioned, non-commercialized Christmas experience," said Maron.

There is no photographer taking pictures for a price. Instead, parents are encouraged to bring their own cameras and take pictures of their children on Santa's lap. 

The hot chocolate and cookies served up by Mrs. Claus are on the house.

Maron said some people are so unaccustomed to a public Christmas event that does not include fees that they will call and ask several times about the cost. "They can't believe there is no entrance fee or parking fee, or at least a price per carload," he said

It was only after many visitors continued to ask how they could contribute that the group began putting out a donation box. "It does help pay for some of the expenses," he said.

Maron said the workshop is the park's one last gasp before they close for the season and a nice way to end the year. On opening day, Dec. 11, he said they welcomed about 500 visitors. They expected a little less on Dec. 12 because of the heavy rain.

"We do some advertising, but most of it is by word of mouth," said Maron. "At this point, we're actually getting third-generation people here. It definitely serves its purpose."

Santa's Workshop will be open through the Dec. 23. Hours of operation are 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. on weekdays, and 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. on weekends.