How Santa's grotto will look this year: 'We aren't going to lose Christmas'

Santa's 'grotto' creates a magical atmosphere each year, allowing children and families to soak up the commercial Christmas spirit from as early as September.

Yet there are question marks over how the North Pole will change as the pandemic continues.

Namely Santa's grotto: the whimsical space where, in a pre-COVID world, kids would run around in close proximity and parents stood shoulder-to-shoulder waiting to get the family Christmas portrait.

Aussies spent more than $52.7 billion across retail stores during the Christmas period last year, according to Roy Morgan research.

"One thing's for sure, Christmas is coming to Australia this year," Kerry Stewart of Dovecote Design, a company that specialises in transforming spaces into Christmas havens, tells 9Honey.

"We have spent a lot of time working out COVID safe plans, and how we can still offer that Santa set experience."

While "gone are the days" we can sit on Santa's lap, Stewart says sets will now feature additional seating, sanitisation stations at the entrance and exit of the set, and "locks" on the grotto so multiple families do not enter at the same time.

"Elements of the set will also be wiped down between families," she explains.

More light decorations and giant props such as Nutcrackers and reindeers will be used to amplify the Christmas presence in Santa's socially-distanced grotto, while also providing adequate distancing for photographers, she adds.

"After what we've all been through, I think we need some extra love and cheer," Stewart says.

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"It's the feel-good part of Christmas that we're really looking for."

The nationwide company, based in Melbourne, also had a special message for Victorians under strict lockdown: "Victoria will have Santa sets."

As for the Santas themselves, National Santa employer Book A Santa is putting comfort and care for our Mr Clauses at the forefront of this Christmas period.

"We've also got a set of guidelines to keep our Santa's safe to include social-distancing, and distancing in a line," company director Michelle Drinnan tells 9Honey.

"Fortunately a large majority of our Santas across the country are fine."

Drinnan explains customers will be asked to sanitise before they meet with Santa and the company will be offering "virtual" experiences as well, allowing parents to book an online meeting with Saint Nick.

With over 600 Santas on the company's books - some of which have been working for the past 15 Christmases - Drinnan says, "Santas still want to work and get out there and spread the joy."

"As long as we can do it safely, then Christmas cheer is going to continue."

Sydney's iconic QVB Christmas tree has already been erected to commemorate the festive period, with direct inspiration from the pandemic.

"Inspired by the year it's been, the all-new large-scale art piece is a build on QVB's iconic Christmas tree," the shopping precinct's website reads.

"We wanted to bring the power of art to our building, both physically and virtually, to be reminded that the simple things in our life can bring us joy especially during these difficult times and can be anything but ordinary."

Closer to the North Pole, Santa's Grotto has taken on a radical new form in the United Kingdom, as Matthew Wise, Managing Director of "Great Grottos" that creates over 200 activation's across the country reveals the company has opted for "open staged setting with decorative backdrops".

"Garden centre grottos may prove to be the likely winners," Wise tells the BBC.

Considering Australia has a summer-based Christmas season, the 'alfresco' take on Santa's grotto may seem more akin to the Aussie Christmas spirit.

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