Santa Makes a Magical Arrival at Manvers Lake

Families enjoyed a magical Christmas experience at Manvers Lake on Saturday as Santa Claus made a spectacular entrance, arriving across the water in a dragon boat paddled by his elves and reindeer.

Children and families gathered along the lakeside eagerly awaiting Santa’s arrival, and their faces lit up with excitement as he approached.

The dragon boaters formed a special guard of honour, raising their paddles high to welcome him ashore.

Following his arrival, Santa welcomed more than 100 children into his grotto, where each child received an age appropriate book kindly provided by the National Literacy Trust, spreading the joy of reading alongside the magic of Christmas.

Mark Benton, Manvers Lake & Dearne Valley Trust said:"We’re absolutely thrilled with how the day turned out! Seeing Santa glide across the lake with his elves and reindeer, and watching children’s eyes light up with joy, makes all the hard work worth while. It was wonderful to welcome so many families to the lake, share the magic of the grotto, and give out books in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Events like this are what make our community so special”.

To round off Santa’s visit in true style, South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue arrived with their fire engine to whisk him off to his next destination. Firefighters took time to interact with children and members of the public, making the finale just as exciting as Santa’s arrival.

Manvers Lake & Dearne Valley Trust would like to thank all the families who joined us for this special occasion. We wish all our visitors to the lake a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.