YOU always know Christmas is just around the corner when Santa Claus turns up to meet the kids at Cardwell Garden Centre.

And the festive celebrations are getting off to a cracker of a start with a special weekend of activities that Yule just love to be part of.

Cardwell’s Christmas Opening Event takes place over three days – Friday, November 5 to Sunday November 7 between 10am and 4.30pm – and there is lots of festive fun for everyone.

Santa’s Grotto will open on the first day of the Opening Event and Father Christmas is already looking forward to seeing lots of children.

The Christmas Carnival next to the Grotto will also be going full swing with some fantastic funfair rides and a giant inflatable obstacle course for the kids to enjoy.

Santa’s bringing a special guest along to meet everyone and Rudolph the Mascot will be in the garden centre to meet everyone and make sure they get into the Christmas spirit.

There will also be a Christmas Treasure Hunt during the weekend, a special festive menu in the Patio Cafe and ten per cent off all Christmas products, except food items.

And after the Christmas Opening Event, the Christmas celebrations continue when Santa’s Grotto and Carnival will be open every weekend between 10am and 4.30pm until the end of November; Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 1.30pm to 4.30pm and weekends 10am to 4.30pm during December up to Christmas Eve.

There’s no need to pre-book a visit to Santa’s Grotto, as it’s first-come-first-served every day.

Another weekend of festive fun is also planned on November 26, 27 and 28 when Cardwell’s Big Christmas Weekend takes place with lots of fun and attractions.

Cardwell’s retail general manager, Paul Carmichael said: “We’re getting ready to get the festive fun started with our Christmas Opening Event and our aim is to get everyone in the Christmas spirit.

“We’ve got a ho-ho-host of activities for the kids and the grown-ups can get all the Christmas trees and decorations, plus a huge selection of Christmas gifts they’ll need.

“We love this time of year and we’re looking forward to welcoming visitors to Cardwell and getting into the Christmas spirit with them.”