My sister-in-law’s family has for many years been the driving force behind the Santa House in Bay City, Michigan. It was started in the early ’90s, I think, by one of her great-uncles. When a Holiday Inn decided to build on the Santa House’s land, they city offered them a spot of the other side of the river. (Which makes it an excellent meeting point for the fireworks).

I don’t know everything that goes into the Santa House, but I know they do put a lot of effort into it. They’ve set up little holiday vignettes throughout the building — this year, there’s a new one featuring a tree house! — and kids can come in during the holiday season to visit Santa. And it’s free.

It’s a pretty cool little spot.

I’ve been helping them with their web site and their Facebook page over the last couple of weeks. (Please “like” them, if you’re free and easy with your likes!) Since we’re in the area for Thanksgiving, we went over there today so I could get some more pictures. When we got there, Carrie’s mom was waiting with one of her cousins and a police officer. Because it was reindeer day! And apparently they have to have law enforcement on hand, just in case the reindeer get away. Which has happened before! (Did the police officer on hand just say, “Stop in the name of the law”? I do not know.) But it didn’t happen today, thankfully. I’d never seen a live reindeer before, and today I got to see two. They have a mama reindeer and a baby reindeer (technically: a calf! who knew!), and you can feed them apples.