It’s our family’s favorite time of the year again! The weeks leading up to Christmas are simply magical. This year we have to celebrate Christmas in a different way. And we are thankful to still have options and have some family fun in a safe way by attending the preview night of the Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey in Fairplex. It is an immersive drive-thru experience where we are invited to see the world of the scout elves who are busy checking and making sure our Christmas spirit is high.
Prior to our visit, we received an e-mail reminding us to download the app, which is crucial to have to better enjoy the experience with music and some narratives in a few places. Be sure to download it prior to arriving as it might take a while. If you want to take photos and videos, be sure to have another phone dedicated for it as the app won’t run in the background. During check in, you will be asked how many kids are in the car and they’ll each get a bag filled with some treats and a paper for the kids to write their letter to Santa. Take the time to write a nice letter and you will get a special surprise at the end of the experience.
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The experience lasts approximately an hour (even longer if you’re like us who really took our time exploring and enjoying everything!) so be prepared to have some snacks and use the restroom prior to the start of the experience if you need to as there’s no restroom available after that. Toward the end, you will have an opportunity to shop and there are dedicated lanes for it. If you bring toys to be donated to Toys for Tots, there is a special lane for it too.
Our family truly enjoyed this event. The kids were so excited to see beautiful Christmas lights, funny, cheery and talented scout elves and to see Santa with his sleigh. It’s a rain or shine type of event so even if it rains, the event will still be going on. We happened to have a slight shower and sprinkle when we attended the preview night, but the casts all looked very well trained and did not look the slightest bothered by it. They all wore mask properly, and no, it didn’t ruin the experience in any way. We can roll down our windows but if we do, they ask that we wear a mask.
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Global holiday phenomenon The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition from The Lumistella Company, in partnership with Constellation Immersive, a newly formed affiliate of leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA), transforms Los Angeles County into a magical wonderland this holiday season. The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey , a one-of-a-kind immersive drive-thru experience, incorporating social distancing rules and health safety precautions, launches November 12, 2020 through January 3, 2021 at the Fairplex in Pomona, California.
“Bringing an experience that expands on the beloved stories, characters and themes of The Elf on the Shelf ® to life, particularly in a year when we are all in need of extra cheer, means the world to us,” Christa Pitts and Chanda Bell, founders and co-CEOs of The Lumistella Company, the company behind The Elf on the Shelf ® , said in a joint statement. “The profound magic of the holidays and the way it enlightens and excites both children and adults are why we first wanted to share The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition with the world.”
Designed by David Korins, award-winning creative director and set designer of the original Broadway productions of “Hamilton,” “Beetlejuice,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and the Oscars 2019 and directed by Vance Garrett, Chief Creative Officer, Constellation Immersive, whose production highlights include “Sleep No More” and “29 Rooms,” The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey aims to offer an enchanted escape by way of a multi-sensory marvel, complete with a spirit-stirring score and a light-filled spectacle. From the comfort and safety of guests’ vehicles, the experience takes patrons on an hour-long adventure to help save Christmas after Santa Claus encounters a sleigh mishap. Attendees will be transported through a series of larger-than-life, holiday dreamworlds to help find the magic Santa needs to fly again, including a Toy Repair Workshop, Gingerbread Village covered in decadent candy, Arctic Winter Wonderland, Santa’s Magical Grotto, and so much more. Once the journey is complete, guests can enjoy a drive-thru holiday retail experience.
After a year with so many twists and turns, the journey promises to deliver enough oversized wonder and moments of magic around every corner to make audiences of all kinds into wide-eyed believers. “We’re proud to partner with this beloved holiday brand and to collaborate with David Korins and the rest of the creative team to offer a new story of adventure to this magical creative universe,” said Marty LaSalle, Co-Head, Constellation Immersive. “It’s an honor to bring this enchanting holiday drive-thru destination to Los Angeles County and we hope to expand it to additional cities across the country next year.”
As the holidays will look a little different this year, The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey knows a few things will never change such as making memories, celebrating with family and friends, and giving back to the community. To promote the season of giving, there will be a toy drive benefiting Toys for Tots and Children’s Hospital LA. Attendees can make a monetary donation at the time of their ticket purchase or bring an unwrapped toy to their ticketed experience.
“At CAA, we are always thinking about the future and the future of experiences is not only immersive, but also thoughtfully curated. People are hungry to connect in new and meaningful ways. We want to create the context to inspire these new connections,” said Thao Nguyen, Art and Design Agent, CAA, and Co-Head, Constellation Immersive.
Ticket prices start at $19.95 for children and $24.95 for adults. The experience officially opens on November 12, with previews starting on November 6. Spanish narration for the attraction will also be available as an option. Tickets are expected to sell out due to the limited-run.
For more information regarding The Elf on the Shelf’s Magical Holiday Journey , ticket pricing and packages, how to buy, visit https://elfontheshelfjourney.com. Please also follow The Elf on the Shelf Experience at @magicalelfjourney.
November 12, 2020 - January 3, 2021
1101 W McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768
Bring the whole family on a Wednesday or Sunday in November and get 4 tickets for $99 with promo code: 4SOCIAL or click on the link HERE
