New attraction gives visitors a walk through Christmas

MENAN – Over the river and through the woods to the Christmas River we go!

James and Teresa Stoker’s new Christmas-themed attraction, The Christmas River, opened to the public Friday with rave reviews.

“Two days after Halloween, we decided to go with the Christmas attraction and I’ve just been going nonstop to get it ready,” James Stoker tells EastIdahoNews.com.

You may remember when it opened this fall as The Haunted River, a Halloween attraction, but now it’s decked out with the sights and sounds of Christmas.

The Christmas River follows a half-mile trail on the dry bed along the Snake River. It begins with a jaunt over a bridge. Jack Skellington from “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is there to greet you on the other side.

“As you walk across the bridge and go into the attraction, hopefully, people will make the connection they’re going into the Christmas section from one theme to another,” Stoker says.

Head down the trail dotted with lampposts and seasonal signposts such as “Walking in a Winterland.” You can get a photo with Elsa and Olaf from “Frozen” before heading through the village. It’s an old-fashioned walk through Christmas past.

“Christmas lights are all throughout the village. We’ve lit up the trees, the buildings and tepees, even,” says Stoker.

The attraction also includes other “Frozen” characters, the Grinch, Santa and a manger scene.

“There’s a pathway that leads you through the whole village and back out, but people can walk at their own leisure. There’s no reason to rush,” Stoker says.

Live singers are there to serenade you at the gate. After your walk through the village, you can come back for hot chocolate, cider and doughnuts. See a tour of the attraction in the video above.

Christmas