Christmas can be an expensive time of year and the cost of living crisis is making things even harder for families.
One of the most popular attractions during the festive period is Cockfields Farm in Ashton, Tameside, which hosts a Christmas Experience throughout the festive season. The tickets aren't cheap - for children it's £40, adults £20 and under ones £10.
Farm bosses are all too aware that it's a big expense for parents, so much so they have offered a payment plan for customers to be able to pay in three separate instalments.
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Some families have criticised the cost - not just at Cockfields but at Reddish Vale Farm in Stockport too, where its Christmas Experience costs £35.50 for kids, £15.50 for adults and £10 for under ones.
Colette Boswell was hoping to book Reddish Vale Farm for her niece, but described the price as 'outrageous'.
"I cannot believe the cost of seeing Santa at most places, especially with the cost of living crisis," said Colette. "I was going to take my niece to Reddish Vale Farm until I saw the cost. How can they justify the price? £35.50 for a child, fair enough, even though I find that quite expensive, but then to pay £15.50 per adult too is a joke.
"It's not like the adult is getting anything out of it. It's for the children. I agree it's a magical visit but £66.50 for two adults and a child is unjustified. I'll be taking my niece elsewhere."
Another parent, who was wanting to book Cockfields, told us: "It's such a big expense, especially at this time of year and with the way things are right now. The very fact they've offered a payment plan shows they know how expensive it is."
But both attractions say families don't always realise that they're paying for a full Christmas experience, which is months in the planning.
Cockfields Farm manager Mark Navin said: "The Christmas Experience at Cockfields Farm is so much more than just a Santa visit. Each year we transform the whole farm into an amazing winter wonderland to take our visitors on an amazing immersive experience that is for the whole family and not just for kids.
"Our experience is not the cheapest around, but we feel it’s the best value for money in the North West for the quality of the experience."
Visitors enjoy a host of activities in their tickets price, including a private Santa's Grotto visit, choosing their own toy from the toy shop, writing a letter to Santa, and meeting and feeding the various animals.
Children get to build their own teddy bear to take home, make magic reindeer dust to sprinkle on Christmas Eve, and learn to be an elf in Elf Academy.
They get to see real reindeer and enjoy story-time in the Reindeer Lodge and they also get unlimited rides on the fairground carousel.
Mark added: "Our Christmas event takes a huge effort to set up and the attention to detail is never compromised. It takes a team of four builders six weeks to build the sets and then our team of elves another two to decorate.
"Past visitors agree they feel like they are actually at the North Pole. We hire in nine professional actors to help us produce the shows and activities plus a team of 45 of our own staff to run the event to the high standard we set ourselves.
"This year we have introduced a 'Pay in 3' scheme for our events, which customers can reserve their preferred date with just a 30 per cent deposit then the balance can be paid in two more instalments up to two weeks before the actual date of their visit."
Managers at Reddish Vale Farm say families are getting 'a full experience', which is two hours long, with the farm transformed into a purpose-built North Pole Christmas Experience.
A lot of work goes on behind the scenes - months of preparation goes into getting the events set up, from the construction and decoration side to the organisation of professional actors.
Jordan the Animal Farm manager says the prices have been kept the same as last year due to the cost of living crisis, while enhancing the event to 'make it even more magical'.
The event starts with the children being taught in elf school, then it's on to Santa’s workshop to build a bear to take home, enjoy snow showers in the life size elf village, visit Holly Jolly gum sweet shop, write a letter to Santa at the Pole Office and post it in 'the magic post box'.
Mrs Clause's Kitchen is said to be 'a real show stopper' - with a fully built kitchen and fire with seating - where little ones can help Mrs Clause decorate some gingerbread she made, before settling for a Christmas tale.
They then visit the reindeer stable to have a sing-along with the reindeer and farmyard friends, before seeing Santa and receiving a gift.
"The reviews speak for themselves" said managers, adding: "We did not have a single negative review last year and promise a five-star experience for all. From the start to finish, people will be wowed with how much time, effort and investment goes into our Christmas event."
Both attractions offer adult refreshments as part of the package, with children also offered a hot chocolate at Reddish Vale. Families can either take their own photos of the Santa visit, or purchase the ones taken there.
Have you been to either Christmas experience or have you booked this year? Do you think the payment plan is a good idea? Let us know your views in the comments here.
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