Get ready for some free, family-friendly fun to get you in the Christmas spirit! We're talking crafts, free gift cards and more!
Follow the trail of elf stickers on the floor of Christown Spectrum Shopping Center, and you'll find Christown Cringle's Workshop!
Enjoy all kinds of activities the first three weekends in December. While we were there, Washington High School’s preschoolers colored Christmas trees and made necklaces out of yarn and green-and-red-colored macaroni noodles.
Mrs. Claus' Kitchen is new this year with even more crafts! We met Mrs. Claus, and she showed us how to make gingerbread houses and Play-Doh cookies.
The kiddos can also make ornaments, one to take home and one to decorate the workshop tree. The trees will eventually be donated to a local senior center or children's charity at the end of the workshop's duration.
Santa's mailbox will also be on site for kids to write notes to Old Saint Nick.
Christown Cringle's Elves will read holiday stories to children, and you can meet characters like Frosty the Snowman, a Toy Soldier, Elf, Ice Queen, the Friendly Grinch, and Teddy Bear! There will also be festive face painters, balloon twisters and more!
Each Saturday only, the first 100 people will receive one free $5 Harkins Theatres gift card.
It's not required, but you're encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to place on Mrs. Claus' shelf and toys to help fill Santa's sleigh. Eventually, those food items will go to a Phoenix food bank and the toys will go to a local children's charity. Those who donate get a $5 gift card to Harkins.
I don't want to spoil the surprises you'll find there, but want to share that the newly renovated Christown Cringle's Workshop has three areas. The front room is the biggest, where kids will do most of the crafts. The second room is bright pink, and that's Mrs. Claus' Kitchen to do additional crafts. The back room is where the reading takes place. Plus, there's a track with two trains around the ceiling. and the decorations are phenomenal.
While blowing kisses, the Washington High School’s preschoolers cheesed it up for the camera and exclaimed, "Merry Christmas!"
IF YOU GO:
Christown Cringle's Workshop changed locations! The best place to park is near Harkins and Walmart. If you're looking straight at the Harkins entrance, a smaller mall entrance is immediately to the right. Go in there, and you'll practically run into the workshop!
West Bethany Home Road &, N 19th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85015
Enjoy from noon to 4 p.m. on the following dates:
Saturday, December 1: Special Opening Day entertainment
Sunday, December 2
Saturday, December 8
Sunday, December 9
Saturday, December 15
Sunday, December 16