Kris Kringle Inventionasium

Eating dinner at Collision Bend was a nice, warm way for Grace to have her first experience of the Flats.  The restaurant is in an old warehouse right on the river with a beautiful view as the sun was going down. Grace took this photo and I took the next one of her as she did it!

We promised to take her back for a boat ride and lunch in the summer when it is warm and you can enjoy the water.

After dinner we went to Tower City for a different kind of Santa experience.

Kris Kringle's Inventionasium is an interactive theatrical performance that is supposed to be at Santa's workshop. You travel through different rooms, each with its own activity, and then meet Santa at the end.  Think of Willy Wonka or Alice in Wonderland crossed with Santa and you get the idea of what this was like - colorful, a little zany, silly, and imaginative.

You are greeted at the door where everyone is called a "Dreamer" and you take an oath. 

Everyone promised to be up for the fun and to be creative.  That wasn't difficult as you walked down this hallway to the first room.

We met the first elf who helped us all figure out our elf names - a word, and action, and a sound - based upon our real names.  After we "got" everyone practiced which was hilarious!

In the next room we mixed molecules to create the potion for "Joy".

We made Christmas cards with water and paint brushes, mixed water and a powder to create snow, and created ornaments from moon sand.

In one room we played with all kinds of blocks to make a toy creation for Santa.

You get the idea...Near the end while we waited to talk to Kris Kringle, we took a few photos and then the clock snuck up on Grace!

I was impressed how Kris Kringle talked to Grace and asked her first if she want to sit on his knee for some photos.  He gave her a lot of individual attention.  She said she wants a hoverboard but he said maybe he will bring her a surprise she didn't think of.  (BTW - she knows Santa is not real but she does want to believe in the magic of the season.)

It was definitely a fun experience to do once!