Everything's coming up Christmas outside Santa's cottage at Santa's Village. (Lisa Fox photo)

Kids who want to get an edge on their Christmas gift lists should head north to Bracebridge, Santa's "summer home."

It seems the jolly gent from the north and his jolly wife spend their summers in Ontario's Muskoka playground.

The location makes sense since Santa's Village is "conveniently located halfway between the equator and the North Pole on the 45th parallel," said general manager Jamie Hopkins.

This "kinder, gentler" amusement park set among fragrant pine trees on the banks of the Muskoka River has been Santa's seasonal domain for 53 years.

The trees and river breezes cool the summer heat as kids visit Santa and then romp through this ho-ho-ho land of themed rides and attractions.

It's like Christmas in June, July and August. Better hurry because Santa closes up in September, the weekend after Labour Day, so he can head back to the North Pole to get ready for the festive season.

In keeping with the theme, the village roller-coaster is called Rudolph's Sleigh Ride and the Candy Cane Express train takes visitors around the 21-hectare park.

There's a ferris wheel that resembles Christmas tree ornaments, a vintage merry-go-round, an inflatable Moonwalk for bouncing, a Jumpin' Star Kiddie Dropper and Candy Cane Lane skill games.

Let Captain Ricky, who calls himself one of the elves, take you on a trip along the river. Cruise Lemonade Lagoon in one of Santa's paddleboats or splash under giant candy cane fountains.

In Village Square, the Claus family has a summer cottage decorated for its favourite season as children clamber and climb onto Santa's knee and whisper their special requests in his ear.

Nearby is an amphitheatre for shows by children's entertainers and Santa's farm where children pet and feed the resident reindeer, goats and sheep. Elves Island has huge slides and nets to climb.

On Fantastic Tuesdays, through Aug. 26, children meet Dora the Explorer of TV fame.

New this year is Eaglecrest Aerial Park's Ultimate Treetop Adventure, where you can spend two hours above the forest canopy of the majestic pines along the river.

The adjoining Sportsland has Mister Rudolph's Birdies and Bogeys -- that's an 18-hole mini-golf course with challenging dips and turns down sculpted fairways surrounded by Muskoka rocks.

There are Grand Prix racer go-carts, Babe Rudolph's batting cages, mountain biking and inline skating at Rudy's Rollers, laser tag, basketball and arcade games.

Visitors can bring a picnic lunch to eat riverside or buy meals and snacks from such outlets as Kris Kringle's Kitchen and Mrs. Claus' Gingerbread House bakery.

The village was established in 1955 as a tourist destination by a group of local citizens concerned that the new Highway 11 was bypassing Bracebridge.

They believed that Santa would like a summer home in the attractive vacation area, noting the link with its location and the North Pole, and that tourists would come.

Nearby is Santa's Whispering Pines Campground for on-site stays with tenting, full services and a general store.

Fox Trots

- It's all happening in Huron County on "Ontario's West Coast," says publicist Laurel Armstrong. Bayfield's fall fair winds up today while the Zurich Bean Festival runs on Aug. 22 and 23. There's the Seaforth Fall Fair, Sept. 4 to 7, and the Huron Pioneer Threshers and Hobby Show, Sept. 5 to 7, in Blyth. The RCMP musical ride gallops into Exeter on Sept. 11, with shows at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. www.ontarioswestcoast.ca; 1-800-280-7637; htinfo@hurontourism.on.ca

- Learn about history down on the farm at the Heritage Farm Show on Aug. 30 and 31 at the Backus-Page House (29424 Lakeview Line) in Wallacetown. There will be a steam engine, threshing and tillage demonstrations, working farm horses, guided wagon rides and heritage farm displays. Enjoy a barbecue lunch, musical entertainment and children's activities along with a Sunday morning pancake breakfast. Hours: Aug. 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Aug. 31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $5 (children to age 12, no charge). 519-762-3072; tyrconnell@execulink.com

IF YOU GO

Santa's Village is open through Sept. 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; Sportsland's hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily except Sundays when it closes at 6 p.m.

Village admission, which includes rides, attractions and shows, is $25 plus tax for ages five and older; $20 for two to four years and seniors 65 plus; free for infants to age two. Sportsland is pay as you play.

Take Highway 401 east to 400 and then Highway 11 north to Bracebridge and follow the signs.

Info: www.santasvillage.ca; info@santasvillage.ca; (705) 645-2512.