Quex Adventure Farm Park in Birchington will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its popular Elf Express this winter.
The first Elf Express was launched at Christmas 2015 and it has grown from humble beginnings with 400 visitors from the community to an astonishing 30,000 visitors last year. It survived the challenging COVID Christmas, where a traffic light system was implemented to ensure visitor safety and spacing.
The success of the Elf Express, which now welcomes visitors from all over Kent and the home counties, is due to the passion of Quex Adventure Farm Park’s managing director, Graham Stroud.
What started with an idea, a boyhood love of tractors and meeting the Man in Red in the tower, has grown into a festive family tradition encompassing reindeer, sparkling woodland trails, lightshows, theatrical performances, Santa’s treetop house and workshops, a giant German style swing BBQ and toasting marshmallows over the firepits.
And, of course, the magical journey on the Elf Express tractor and trailer.
Graham said: “Every year we look to improve and build on the previous year’s success and incorporate customer feedback. This year we have several exciting new initiatives including a free Christmas lightshow every evening of the Elf Express to marvel at the thousands of lights, projections and lasers, with donations going to a local charity.”
New for 2024 is the Reindeer experience, where visitors get the opportunity to meet and feed reindeers in their enclosure. Afterwards pick up a hot-chocolate from the coffee shop.
Book a Christmas Goat Walking experience, where visitors can walk the mischievous Anglo-Nubian Goats around Quex Park, watching them eat the vegetation and learn about these intelligent animals.
Whilst the Elf Express caters for families and groups celebrating the joy of Christmas, it also provides seasonal employment, with around 60 staff required to manage the various events. It is particularly popular with returning students who are home for the holidays, a hard-working and loyal team who return year-on-year.
Last year the team introduced a real ice-skating rink to run alongside the Elf Express. This was a huge success with around 20,000 skaters taking to the ice during December.
Skate into Quex will be returning in 2024 with a larger ice-rink, improved boot-room facilities and themed evenings including 80’s club classics and ABBA nights for those who want to dance on ice under the lights.
Also new will be dynamic ticket options offering customers greater value for money or increased flexibility around their booking, with an option for a child to receive a personalised invitation from Santa inviting them to visit his treetop house and workshop.
Elf Express opens Saturday 30th November to 24th December.
Tickets
Tickets for Elf Express are now on sale from £21.95 at: https://www.theelfexpress.com/visit
Skating sessions last 45 minutes and are available from 9am to 8pm. Skate hire included in ticket price. Tickets from £10pp off peak to £12pp peak times.
Book your tickets here
Reindeer Experience tickets here – £39.95 for two people
Christmas Goat Walking tickets here – £24.95 for two people
Seasonal Work – Fancy being an elf? Send an email to enquire about seasonal work opportunities
Enquiries: [email protected]
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