The annual Hāwea Christmas Wonderland is entering its final weekend at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre, giving locals one last chance to see this year’s imaginative displays.

Christmas elves Elizabeth Horrell and Barbara Mackenzie have been creating the wonderlands for the last seven years, and planning often begins almost a year in advance.

This year’s theme, Dreams of Christmas’, began with Elizabeth’s idea of featuring a unicorn and grew from there into an extravaganza filling the centre’s main hall with a with a series of imaginative scenes - from mermaids and unicorns to an ice igloo, Santa’s seat, and much more.

The main hall is filled with imaginative festive scenes with the theme ‘Dreams of Christmas’.

“People have been telling us this year’s is the best so far, so that’s lovely,” Elizabeth told the Wānaka App.

The wonderland was a community effort - the Wānaka Men’s Shed built a train and carriage especially for the display and contributed to a giant unicorn that took 12 months to build, with help from the team at Fabricate and other community members.

Most of the decorations are Elizabeth’s and Barbara’s own, but various community members are involved in bringing the wonderland’s many moving parts to life, including a dedicated team of around six people who spend 10-12 days at the centre installing everything before it opens.

Elizabeth said the Christmas train, built by the Wānaka Men’s Shed, was one of the highlights of this year’s display.

Born of the pair’s love of Christmas decorating, the wonderland has come a long way since they started. 

“Compared to the first year it’s like chalk and cheese,” Elizabeth said.

A big turnout is expected for the wonderland’s final weekend, which will include an appearance by and photo opportunities with Santa.

All money raised from the wonderland goes back to the community-owned centre.

The giant unicorn, a year-long project, was created with help from the Men’s Shed, Fabricate, and local volunteers.

The Hāwea Christmas Wonderland is open today and tomorrow (Saturday December 13 and Sunday December 14), from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre.

Tickets are $2.50 for children (5+), $10 for adults, and $20 for families, with free entry for under-fives. 

PHOTOS: Wānaka App