Christmas At The Farm, With Real Reindeer, Near Gaylord
Santa spends three December Saturdays at Wilderness Valley Farm, and he brings the one thing no mall can match: Lilly and our herd of real, live reindeer. Meet them, feed them, and get the photo that ends up on next year's card.
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Santa's Reindeer Are Not A Prop Here
Wilderness Valley Farm keeps a herd of real reindeer year round, led by Lilly. Meet them at the barn, feed them, and stand closer to a reindeer than most people ever get.
Here is the detail almost nobody knows: male reindeer drop their antlers before winter, so a reindeer with a full rack in December is almost always female. Lilly wears hers all Christmas, which means the reindeer in your photos looks exactly the way it should.
Saturdays, Dec 5, 12 & 19
Santa, Reindeer & The Farm In Winter
Three Saturdays in December, then the farm closes for the year. Come see Santa where his reindeer actually live, and get the visit in before the season is gone.
Visit With Santa
Santa is at the farm all three Saturdays. Bring your list, bring your camera, and take your time, this is not a mall line with a timer on it.
Meet The Reindeer
Lilly and the herd live here year round. Feed them at the barn and get the photo of your kids next to a real reindeer wearing real antlers.
The Farm In December
The barn dressed for Christmas, the sleigh out front, and Northern Michigan doing what it does in December. Dress warm and make an afternoon of it.
Three Saturdays Only
Christmas Dates For 2026
The farm reopens for three December Saturdays, then closes for the winter. Santa and the reindeer are there for all three, 10am to 5pm.
Dec 5
First Saturday
The season opener, and the safest bet for a relaxed visit before December gets away from everyone.
Dec 12
Second Saturday
The middle weekend, close enough to Christmas to feel like it without the last-minute rush.
Dec 19
Final Saturday
The last chance of the year, six days before Christmas. The visit that lands right when the kids are at peak believing.
Three Saturdays, Then Done
The Last Farm Days Of The Year
December 19 is the final farm Saturday of 2026. Santa and the reindeer are there for all three December dates, and then the gates close until spring. If the kids are going to meet a real reindeer this Christmas, it happens on one of these three days.
Before You Come
Plan Your Christmas Visit
Pumpkin Patch Hours and Admission
| Christmas Saturdays | Dec 5, 12 & 19 |
| Hours | 10am to 5pm |
| Adults 14 to 59 | $15 |
| Children 3 to 13 | $10 |
| Seniors 60 and up | $10 |
| Children 2 and under | Free |
| Santa & the reindeer | Included |
Getting To The Farm
6500 Nicklaus Drive
Gaylord, MI 49735
About twenty minutes west of downtown Gaylord in Otsego County, and an easy drive from Petoskey, Traverse City, Boyne City, Grayling and Alpena. Parking is on site and free. Driving directions from twelve nearby towns.
Gaylord sits in Michigan’s snowbelt and December delivers. Dress the kids for real winter, boots included, and check the roads before the drive if a storm is moving through.
Questions before you come? Call 989-858-6859 or send us a message.
Questions
Christmas Questions
Are the reindeer real?
Completely. Wilderness Valley Farm keeps a herd of real reindeer year round, led by Lilly. They live here, they are not trucked in for the season, and you can feed them at the barn.
Why do the reindeer have antlers in December?
Because they are female. Male reindeer shed their antlers before winter, while females keep theirs through the cold months. A reindeer with a full rack at Christmas is almost always a girl, which is a fun one to tell the kids at the fence.
Is Santa there every Christmas Saturday?
Yes. Santa is at the farm on all three dates, December 5, 12 and 19, from 10am to 5pm.
Is it the same admission as the fall season?
Yes. Adults are $15, kids 4 to 12 and seniors are $10, and infants 3 and under are free. Santa and the reindeer are included with admission.
Where is the farm, and how far is it from Petoskey or Traverse City?
Wilderness Valley Farm is at 6500 Nicklaus Drive, Gaylord MI 49735, about twenty minutes west of downtown Gaylord in Otsego County. Our directions page has routes from twelve nearby towns including Petoskey, Traverse City, Boyne City, Grayling and Alpena. Parking is on site and free.
Saturdays, Dec 5, 12 & 19 • 10am to 5pm
See Santa Where His Reindeer Live
Three December Saturdays, real reindeer, and the barn dressed for Christmas. Buy your tickets ahead so you can head straight through the gate.
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