A colourful Christmas wonderland designed to get locals into the festive spirit will open tomorrow (Saturday December 2).

Lake Hāwea residents Barbara Mackenzie and Elizabeth Horrell have brought the interactive ‘Hāwea Christmas Wonderland’ experience to life at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre for the fifth year in a row, this year with a ‘Magical Tale’ theme that reimagines popular nursery rhymes and fairytales with a Christmas twist.

In addition to the classic Christmas ensemble of reindeer, elves, rabbits, mice, snowmen and Santa, visitors will be able to experience reimagined tales including Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, Cinderella’s ball, Jack’s crown, and the fate of Humpty Dumpty, among others.

Freshly decorated trees at the 2022 wonderland.

The Wānaka App spoke with Elizabeth on Thursday (November 30) as the finishing touches were being completed at the wonderland.

“It’s really lovely to see it start to come together,” she said. 

Planning for this year’s wonderland began almost as soon as last year’s display, ‘Notes of Christmas’, ended, Elizabeth said, making it a year-round project.

Even so, it requires a small army of volunteers, including Elizabeth’s sister, who comes from Invercargill every year to help, and Barbara’s daughter, who always flies over from Australia to spend two weeks setting up.

“There are a multitude of people who we couldn't do it without,” Elizabeth said. “It’s really become a community project.”

Santa will be visiting the wonderland for limited hours on weekends “to balance his time with preparations for his Christmas journey”.

She said the Hāwea Men’s Shed had played a significant role this year, creating a wooden-tiered Christmas tree filled with treasures. 

As for the rest of the displays, you’ll have to head along to see them for yourself: “We’ve decided to keep this year as much of a surprise as we could.”

The Hāwea Christmas Wonderland ‘A Magical Tale’ will open tomorrow (Saturday December 2) and run until Sunday December 10, open on weekends between 10am-4pm and during the weekday from 2pm-5pm.

Santa will be visiting on the weekends only, between 10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm.

Head along this Saturday or Sunday between 10am-2pm and visit the Hāwea Christmas Market, which is also taking place at the Lake Hāwea Community Centre.

Tickets for the wonderland are $10 per adult, $2.50 per child, or $20 per family, while under-4s are free, and group visits outside regular hours are available on request (email [email protected]).

All proceeds will be donated to the Lake Hāwea Community Centre.

PHOTOS: Supplied