Christmas at The Castle of Muskogee
We tried something new to us this year — we visited the Castle of Muskogee for their Christmas Festival. The event runs from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve. The Castle is perhaps best known for the springtime Renaissance festival. We went once when Kieren was little but hadn’t been back since. It was time to check things out!
The lights
Visitors can drive through the Castle of Muskogee’s free Christmas lights display. It is a wonderful display different from other local displays because of the many inflatable characters. A word to the wise — car lines can be very long during the weekend! I highly suggest making sure kiddos have gone to the bathroom before getting in line. We felt it was worth the wait!
Animals and outdoor activities
There are many outdoor activities to enjoy, and we didn’t have to park and walk far. Parking is free, but there is a fee for activities, so check the website for pricing.
Our first stop was at the petting zoo. We enjoyed feeding the ponies, goats, pig, donkey, and mini cow. All of the animals were gentle, and we could have stayed in this area for much longer, but we wanted to explore everything!
There are pony rides and camel rides. There is also a train ride and a hayride to pick from, or families can double the fun and do both. All outdoor and indoor activities are centrally located, so there wasn’t a large area to run back and forth from.
Indoor fun
In the Great Hall, holiday merchants sell everything from candles, to wind chimes, to medieval-themed gift items. Children can build their own stuffed animal in one area, similar to a Build-a-Bear workshop. There is a place for snacks and refreshments close to Santa’s workshop because it wouldn’t be a full experience without a Santa on site!
For older kids and teens, there is even a holiday-themed haunted house! You might be aware that the Castle is also known for their Halloween Village during October, which is known for thrills and frights. This was certainly a taste of that. We all jumped several times when we went through the “Christmas Haunt.”
In a separate, permanent installation area, there is a torture chamber walk-through where you can read about Medieval torture devices and see mocked-up examples. Did this have anything to do with the holidays? Nope! Kieren found it fascinating though, as would many older kids and adults. A similar area designed to look like catacombs is adjacent.
The themed experience
We were glad we went to the Christmas Festival at the Castle of Muskogee. If you want a family experience with a completely unique vibe, this is the place! After all, what child wouldn’t want to visit a place that resembles a castle? Especially at night when the grounds are illuminated by Christmas lights, it is very charming.
