Santa did a practice run at the Indianapolis airport. Now he has a layover lounge in Denver
You don't really think that Santa preps for Christmas, gathers all those toy requests, fills the orders and delivers them around the world with just some reindeer and a magic sleigh, do you?
If you do believe it, then please read no further.
Santa is often spotted in airport concourses during the festive season each year. So it's pretty darn clear that the jolly, red-suited fellow relies heavily on the private and commercial network of airports and airlines worldwide to put the magical holiday show together.
Santa's appearance in Indianapolis
On Saturday, Santa did a test run for the big night at Indianapolis International Airport (IND). He raced across the taxiway on a fire truck driven by one of the airport's firefighters. He then entered the airport on a runway-themed carpet and had his photo taken with some of the more than 1,200 people gathered at the airport's Civic Plaza.
Elves on stilts, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Grinch were also in attendance. They helped visitors make ornaments and enjoy free activities that included story time with airport fire and police team members.
Sleigh the layover at DEN
Everyone, including Santa, enjoys a snack and, perhaps, a cocktail during a layover. Denver International Airport (DEN) is helping Santa — and holiday travelers — enjoy the holiday travel season with Santa's Layover Lounge, open now through Jan. 6.
This isn't the type of lounge you can get into using airline status, credit card status or even a North Pole ID. Instead, it's a holiday pop-up bar that has taken over the Lounge 5280 space on the mezzanine level in the center core of DEN's Concourse B. And it's happy to take your credit card.
Santa's Layover Lounge is decorated for the holiday season and offers a special menu that includes holiday-themed, handcrafted cocktails. Options include the Winter Wonderland Cosmo, the Gingerbread Old Fashioned, the Polar Expresso Martini, the Feliz Navidad (made with tequila, agave, apple cider and cinnamon), the Mule-Tide Carol and the Pa Rum Pa Rum Punch. You can also order beer, wine and other beverages. There's even a decadent hot chocolate bar with loads of topping choices ranging from peppermint and gingerbread syrup to Oreo pieces and Christmas sprinkles.
Food options at Santa's Layover Lounge include breakfast sandwiches and hearty seasonal fare, such as butternut squash soup and turkey sandwiches. And there's a nice assortment of personal-sized pizza options named for (but not made of) Santa's dedicated team of reindeer. Choices include The Dasher, The Dancer, The Prancer, The Vixen, The Comet, The Cupid, The Donner and The Blitzen.
We've sent a reporter to the North Pole to find out why Santa's Layover Lounge doesn't serve a pizza named after Rudolph.
Airport officials say Santa has been popping in and out of the pop-up lounge during his pre-Christmas travels. He is expected to do so until at least Jan. 6, when the lounge reverts to its usual decor.
Because Santa is extremely busy, there's no set schedule for when he'll be stopping by to enjoy the lounge and take photos with passengers during the holiday season. However, when he does stop by the airport, word will go out on DEN's social media channels. Be sure to give them a follow.
Santa's Layover Lounge is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. While it's a real restaurant serving paying customers, everyone is welcome to stop in and take photos — especially when Santa Claus is in town.
The lounge is a partnership between the airport and Skyport Hospitality. It's part of DEN's Vision 100 strategic plan to serve and delight more than 100 million annual passengers.
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