North Pole — Santa's Workshop is open this weekend, Friday through Sunday, at 5050 Pikes Peak Hwy in Cascade. If you've never taken your kids there, or if it's been a few years since your last visit, here's everything you need to know before you go.

Hours and Admission This Weekend

What to Expect at the Park

North Pole has more than 30 rides, with a range that covers toddlers through older kids and parents. There are smaller rides appropriate for young children, and enough variety that families with kids across a range of ages can find something everyone enjoys. The rides are on the gentle to moderate end — this is not a roller coaster park — which makes it genuinely comfortable for families with very young kids.

Meeting Santa is a highlight for many families, even on a summer visit. The park keeps the full Christmas experience going year-round, so Santa is present and available for photos. If you have little ones for whom meeting Santa is a big deal, summer is actually a low-pressure way to do it without the December crowds.

There are also food vendors, gift shops, and holiday-themed photo opportunities throughout the park. The experience is compact enough that you can see most of it in three to four hours, which is a manageable visit with younger kids.

Planning Tips

Arrive earlier in the day rather than later. The park closes at 5:00 PM and stops selling wristbands at 4:15 PM, so arriving after 2:00 PM means a compressed window for rides. Mid-morning arrival gives you the most time and tends to catch the cooler part of the day before Colorado's afternoon temperatures peak.

The park is at altitude — Cascade sits at roughly 7,400 feet. If your family is visiting from lower elevation or from out of town, keep hydration in mind. The Pikes Peak Highway area can also experience afternoon thunderstorms in August, so checking the weather before you go is worth doing.

Entry into the park is genuinely free — you only need the wristband if you want to ride. Families who want to walk through, see the decorations, meet Santa, and grab food can do so without purchasing a wristband.

Getting There

North Pole — Santa's Workshop is located at 5050 Pikes Peak Hwy, Cascade, CO 80809. From Colorado Springs, take US-24 West through Manitou Springs and continue into Cascade. The park is clearly signed along the highway. The drive itself through Ute Pass is scenic and part of the experience.

What's Next

North Pole — Santa's Workshop continues its regular schedule through the fall and transitions to holiday-season hours starting October 28. If this weekend doesn't work for your family, the park runs Friday through Monday most weeks (closed Tuesday and Wednesday) through the season. More information, including any special event dates, is at northpolecolorado.com.