Sleaford Hall residents enjoy magical christmas experience at Rand Farm Park

Residents of Sleaford Hall enjoyed a truly enchanting day out at Rand Farm Park as part of the venue’s annual Christmas Experience.

The festive adventure began with the arrival of Pete from Myley Tours, who greeted everyone with the minibus ready to take them on their way. Armed with tinsel-decorated frames and walking sticks—and proudly wearing Christmas headbands—the group set off on their 40-minute journey. Along the route, they took in familiar Lincolnshire sights, including the cathedral and RAF Waddington, where they were thrilled to see a Red Arrows jet coming in to land.

On arrival, the group was welcomed by two friendly members of staff and ushered into a warm, cosy room for an introduction to the day’s activities. Although a tractor ride was offered, the residents opted instead for a relaxing cup of tea before beginning their Christmas adventure.

Their first stop was a meeting with the delightful Tinsel Elf, who guided them through a sparkling trail of twinkling trees. Along the way, they glimpsed busy elves crafting toys and finally arrived at the highlight of the journey—meeting two real reindeer, Rudi and Rossi. For many, including Pauline, this was a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

After watching the reindeer enjoy their food, the group continued along the glittering pathway. The Tinsel Elf provided each resident with magical glasses that transformed the tree lights into shining stars and cheerful snowmen, adding to the wonder of the experience.

At the end of the trail, a grand door opened to reveal another cheerful Elf, who escorted the group to meet Father Christmas himself. The visit proved to be a heart-warming moment, with Father Christmas chatting happily, posing for photos, and presenting each resident with a magic coin. This special token allowed them to choose a gift from his toy shop for a child or grandchild.

Before leaving, the residents helped conjure a little Christmas magic to open a secret passageway when the door became “stuck.” With a chorus of “Abracadabra, snow and reindeers!”, a bell chimed, a bookcase swung open, and a snowy path appeared, leading them directly to the toy shop.

After selecting gifts, they continued on to meet Mrs. Christmas, who invited them to decorate gingerbread people and share a friendly chat. The day concluded with a visit to the farm’s animals—an ending that felt straight out of a storybook.

The outing was met with unanimous delight.

Pauline said she had “a wonderful time” and was thrilled to finally see real reindeer.

Laurie described it as “the best day out in a while.”

Freda simply called it “a really lovely day,” while Kathy declared the best part was “the whole day.”

A huge thank you goes to Rand Farm Park, the elves, Rudi and Rossi the reindeer, and Father and Mrs. Christmas for creating such a magical experience. Special thanks also to Pete, the minibus driver, for getting everyone there and back safely.