Santa Experience FAQ's 2023

All bookings must be made online in advance. Tickets will not be available to purchase at the event. Please see www.crokepark.ie/santa for tickets. Unfortunately, we cannot take bookings over the phone, or on the day, under any circumstances.

Please book your tickets early, to avoid disappointment.

Once you have completed your transaction, a confirmation email containing your unique booking reference number, will be sent to the email address provided (please make sure to enter email address correctly). If you do not receive your confirmation email, please check your spam/junk folders as it may have been diverted there, depending on your email provider.

If you still haven't received your confirmation email, please contact us by emailing [email protected]. Please do not contact us by telephone.

Ticket prices (excluing booking fees) are:

Adults: €13
Children aged 2 upwards: €20(including gift)
Children aged 13 months – 23 months: €14 (including gift)
Children Under 1: Free of charge and gift included, but ticket must be booked.

Childrenmust be accompanied by an adult

Payment on arrival will not be possible. All bookings must be made online, in advance, via: crokepark.ie/santa
 

In this case, it is likely that there are not enough places left to fulfil your order. For example, you require 5 tickets, but there are only 4 left. Please select an alternative date / time.

We do not operate a waiting list or cancellation list. Occassionally, ticketing updates may be featured on our social media channels, so please check there for details.
 

Should you wish to cancel a booking, we will require a minimum of seven days notice from the date of your original booking. Requests received after this time will not receive a refund.

Unfortunately, we cannot process part refunds.

Provided that there is availability, you can do this yourself, by adding the relevant ticket/s via the online booking system.

Sorry, but group bookings are not available.

The Santa Experience will begin at the GAA Museum. The museum is located under the Cusack Stand at Croke Park. There is no access to the event via the Hogan Stand entrance, opposite Croke Park Hotel. Free parking is available using this entrance.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your start time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals. Don't forget to check-in at the Santa desk upon arrival. This will be clearly signposted.

Please allow for traffic delays when planning your journey to Croke Park.

Please note: We do not issue refunds for latecomers or no shows.

Entry to the GAA Museum is included in your ticket. This is a self-guided space. You are welcome to view this area in advance of your Santa Experience and also afterwards.We recommend that you allow at least 30 minutes for viewing the GAA Museum. This time is in addition to your Santa Experience, which will last approximatley 50 minutes. 

If you are booked on to the last two timelsots on the day, we advise that you visit the GAA Museum in advance of your Santa Experience tour time.

The Santa Experience lasts approximately 50 minutes.

Tickets also include entry to the GAA Museum, which is a self-guided space. Time spent in the GAA Museum will be in addition to your Santa Experience visit. We reccommend that you allow at least 30 minutes for viewing the GAA Museum.

If you are booked on the last two tour slots each day, you should visit the GAA Museum in advance of your allocated Santa Experience time.

The Santa experience takes place both indoors and outdoors and all patrons under the age of eighteen must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This is a group tour, and you will be joined by other people during your visit. Every ticket/family booking will have a chance to meet Santa individually. Before meeting Santa, you will visit the Elf Dressing Rooms and North Pole Skills Zone with your tour guide.

You will also have access to the GAA Museum, where you can collect your Junior Explorer passport and follow the clues through the exhibits, visit our Cú Chulainn activity den, play our interactive games, and spend time in the Hall of Fame and view our trophy collection.

Every child will receive a small GAA-themed gift. This year we are refraining from using wrapping paper, in support of our sustainability practices.

Children who complete our 'GAA Museum Junior Explorer' trail will also receive a token prize.

The gift is included in the ticket price.

Your group will have a chance to have their photo taken with Santa. Photos will be available to view and purchase following your visit with Santa.

The photo is not included in the ticket price. Photos cost €12.50 for one or three for €25 - they also come with a souvenir booklet. You are also welcome to take your own pictures with Santa.

Yes – you are welcome to take pictures throughout your visit. Please be respectful of other visitors and only take pictures of your own group

Of course! Santa Experience tickets also include access to the fabulous GAA Museum, so don’t forget to look around.

There is plenty to see and do at the GAA Museum - you can collect a Junior Explorer passport and follow the clues through the exhibits, visit our Cú Chulainn activity den to write a letter to Santa, stamp it and post it at the museum’s postbox. You can also spend time in the Hall of Fame, view the Trophy Collection and have fun in the interactive games areas.

Under eighteens must be accompanied by an adult at all times whilst in the museum, gift shop, Blackthorn Café and Croke Park Stadium.

Time spent in the GAA Museum is in addition to your Santa Experience, so please factor this into your schedule. We recommend at least 30 minutes for the GAA Museum.

If you are booked into the last two time-slots of each day, we advise that you access the GAA Museum before your Santa Experience visit. 

Yes, during the Santa Experience visit it will be possible to see the Croke Park pitch, as we will have viewing points set up. Please note that walking on the pitch at Croke Park is not permitted under any circumstances

You are welcome to take photos of the pitch and stadium.

As Croke Park is a working stadium, there will be matches taking place at certain stages during the staging of the Santa Experience. However, please be ensured that this will not affect your visit.

Yes – you can bring a buggy on the experience. Please make sure children are strapped in safely and correctly. Follow the advice of the staff and tour guides at all times. Please take note of signage and exercise caution where there are steps. Alternatively, buggies can be folded, stored and collected after your visit.

Yes, the Santa Experience is fully wheelchair accessible.

Yes – the GAA Museum’s Blackthorn Café is open. The café serves hot drinks, sandwiches, snacks and treats.

Toilets are located in the GAA Museum. Baby changing facilities are also available. At busy times extra toilets will be made available in the stadium.
 

Yes. The GAA Museum gift shop will be open during your visit with lots of gift ideas. You can also shop online at www.crokepark.ie/shop.

If a member of your group requires a clamer and quieter environment, please email [email protected] for information on our sensory visits.

Queries should be submitted via email at [email protected]. Please be assured that a member of the Santa Experience team will get back to you, however as it is an extremely busy period, response times may take up to 72 hours.

We cannot take Santa Experience queries via phone.

If we cannot run the event, please be assured that all tickets purchased are fully refundable.

We recommend that you dress warmly and wear comfortable walking shoes. Part of your experience will take place outdoors.

Walking on the pitch at Croke Park is not permitted under any circumstances.

Please remain with museum staff and follow their advice throughout your visit.

All patrons under the age of eighteen must be accompanied and supervised by an adult, during the Santa Experience and throughout the GAA Museum and Blackthorn Café.

Don’t forget to have fun!