Guest Author - Kimi Ross

It’s eighty degrees, the sun is shining twenty-four hours a day, and there isn’t a snowflake in sight – but that doesn’t stop the Christmas spirit from being felt in North Pole, Alaska. With street names like Santa Claus Lane and St. Nicholas Drive and business signs sporting a candy cane motif, this city fifteen minutes south of Fairbanks takes its name seriously. The city founders chose the name North Pole in hopes of attracting toy manufacturers. While there are no toys produced with a “Made in North Pole” label, other entrepreneurs capitalize on the community’s name, drawing visitors all summer and sleighs full of mail every Christmas.

One of the biggest attractions in North Pole is Santa Claus House and Santaland RV Park. Visible from the Richardson Highway, Santa Claus House boasts a 42-foot fiberglass Santa as well as live reindeer – Dasher, Blitzen, Comet and Cupid, to be exact. They also have Christmas trees and a life-size nativity scene year round. And for anyone who enjoys shopping for Christmas collectibles, even in July, this is the place to visit – ornaments, North Pole t-shirts, Christmas toys and “Made in Alaska” Christmas-themed products can all be found at Santa Claus House.

Perhaps the most popular item for sale, though, is the customized letter from Santa. Every year Santa’s merry little elves send thousands of “official” letters from Santa around the world, personalized for each child and stamped with the official USPS North Pole postmark.

Of course, one can also send a letter composed by “Santa” (i.e. a parent or guardian) to the North Pole postmaster in a larger, pre-stamped envelope. The North Pole Post Office will postmark the reply and put it in the mail. Every December the North Pole station receives hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to Santa; volunteers from the community give Santa a hand and answer as many as they possibly can. The North Pole post office will also cancel greeting cards with the North Pole postmark.

Despite the visibility of Santa Claus House and nearby Santaland RV Park, the local economy is driven not by tourism, but by oil. North Pole Refinery, operated by Flint Hill Resources, is the largest refinery in Alaska and has an operating capacity of 220,000 barrels per day. The refinery produces a variety of petroleum products, with the majority going to the aviation market.

In a community with so much Christmas spirit, it is not surprising that they have an annual Christmas Candlelight Ceremony with speakers, performances, and singing. This is followed by the annual tree-lighting ceremony. North Pole also hosts ice-carving contests in the winter.