Santa Claus Village in Finland faces cancellations over mild weather – due to lack of snow

The popular European country home to Santa Clause’s village is reportedly cancelling winter trips due to lack of snow. Lapland is one of the best places in the world to witness the northern lights, with sightings possible from late autumn to early spring.

Popular viewing spots include Rovaniemi (Finland), Abisko (Sweden), and Tromsø (Norway). Santa Claus Village (Finland) is located near Rovaniemi that offers reindeer rides, elf workshops, and holiday magic.

However, with mild winter temperatures across, some of the Christmas plans have been abruptly cancelled, reports Euronews. 

For instance, Rovaniemi recently experienced unusually mild weather. Instead of the usual 20-30cm of snow covering the ground, November saw only a few isolated patches with a couple of centimetres, leaving much of the region completely snow-free.

Huge German holiday firm TUI has started cancelling some of its very popular Lapland trips as snow is missing from the magical place. 

On December 3 and 4 this year, TUI cancelled several trips to Kuusamo in Finnish Lapland due to a lack of snow. Heavy rainfall in the area washed away what little snow remained, making it impossible to undertake many of the wintry excursions planned for visitors.

In a statement released on Tuesday 4 December, the travel company said: “We’ve been closely monitoring the weather forecast in Kuusamo. Unfortunately, there has been heavy rainfall today and what snow there was, has washed away.

“This means that, regretfully, it won’t be possible to operate the magical Lapland experience we had planned for you, including tasters and pre-booked excursions. We understand how devastating this news will be, and we are really sorry to have reached this outcome.”

Those who have been left impacted by the move have been offered the option to change their travel dates, including to next winter, at no additional cost, to rebook onto another holiday with a 10 per cent discount, or to get a full refund for their trip.

Santa Claus Village, located in Rovaniemi, Finland, is a magical destination that celebrates the joy and wonder of Christmas year-round.

Situated on the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, this enchanting village is a top attraction for families, winter adventurers, and holiday enthusiasts.

The heart of the village is Santa Claus’ office, where visitors can meet Santa himself, take photos, and share their Christmas wishes.

Guests can enjoy short reindeer sleigh rides or longer husky safaris to explore the snowy landscapes of Lapland.