Santa at the Ranch 2025: A Weekend of Magic, Community, and Giving Back

December 05, 2025
Public Events

Photography credit: Katie Corinne Photography

There's something truly special about the holiday season at Spruce Mountain Ranch. It’s a time when our venue transforms into a winter wonderland and our community comes together for one of our most cherished traditions. This year's Santa at the Ranch weekend was nothing short of magical, bringing together 767 guests across three joyful events to celebrate the season while supporting a cause close to our hearts.

Between our Friday evening PJs with Santa celebration and two spectacular Santa Brunches over the weekend, families gathered to sing Christmas carols, meet Santa Claus, enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, and create memories that will last a lifetime. But perhaps the most meaningful part of this beloved tradition is knowing that every ticket purchased, every seat filled, and every smile shared contributes to something far greater than a holiday event.

This year, the joy and generosity of our community raised an incredible $32,900—with 100% of proceeds benefiting Mount Saint Vincent. This remarkable organization provides essential services to children and families in crisis, including community preschool programs, pediatric behavioral healthcare, foster care services, individualized education, and trauma-informed training. For children who have experienced unimaginable hardship, Mount Saint Vincent offers hope, healing, and a path forward.

What does Santa at the Ranch mean to us?

Santa at the Ranch isn’t just a joyful event for the Douglas County community, but a favorite among our own Spruce Mountain Ranch leadership and partners. This year, our owner and operator of Spruce Mountain Events, Tara Ames, our Marketing Coordinator, Kristin Steiner, and our Event Planner, Sarah Viera of Sarah Viera Event Planning & Design, shared some of their favorite memories from Santa at the Ranch, and what this valuable cause means to them.

Santa

Photography credit: Sun Prairie Films

In your words, why is Santa at the Ranch important to the community?

Kristin: Santa Weekend is one of only a handful of public events at Spruce Mountain Ranch. We started doing Santa Weekend as a way to raise money for our philanthropy, Mount Saint Vincent, which holds a special place in our hearts. Over the years, this event has become beloved by the community.

Tara: This event has become a tradition for many families and the Douglas County community. We are proud to serve our community, but most importantly, we are blessed to have the support of our community to ultimately give to such a worthy cause as Mount St. Vincent.

Sarah: Weekend with Santa provides the magic of Christmas brought to so many families in three quick nights. From the families attending each night that get to sing along to Christmas songs, meet Santa Claus and take pictures with him, enjoy a horse carriage ride around the beautiful property of Spruce Mountain Ranch, and enjoy food and beverages, and quality time with their family and friends. Weekend with Santa also gives back to Mount Saint Vincent with 100% of all proceeds from ALL three days to give back to an organization that helps children in need! There is nothing greater than that!

Santa

Photography credit: Sun Prairie Films

What does Spruce Mountain Ranch value about giving back to Mount Saint Vincent specifically?

Kristin: Mount Saint Vincent helps children and families in crisis. I personally have some experience with that and appreciate what a valuable resource they are to the community.

Tara: Knowing we are supporting an organization that gives so much to desperate children in need and the impact it has on allowing Mount Saint Vincent to continue to do God's work means everything.

Sarah: That it is helping SO many kids from one weekend of events.

Why is it important to the Spruce Mountain Ranch leadership and staff to be involved in the community and give back in meaningful ways?

Kristin: We are so very lucky to work at such a wonderful place like Spruce Mountain Ranch. The owners, the Ames Family, are some of the most kind and generous people I've ever met. Mount Saint Vincent is an organization they have supported for many, many years, and it is important for them that their companies and employees share in giving back. It is part of our company culture.

Tara: At Spruce Mountain, one of our core values is serving others from the heart. We hire based on finding people that share the same values. Events like these are just another way for our staff to do what they are naturally inclined to do. Give to others.

Santa

Photography credit: Stephanie Messick Photography

What is your favorite part of Santa Brunch and/or PJ’s with Santa events?

Kristin: The JOY!!! Kids and parents alike LOVE this event. We bring together top-notch vendors along with our Spruce Mountain team to make it a magical experience for everyone.

Tara: I love announcing Santa’s arrival at the event! It is truly magical. Not only for the kids but for the adults as well. At that moment, as you look around the room, every person has a smile on their face, and there are even those who are moved to tears.

Sarah: Seeing the children's faces light up when Santa walks into the room. It truly is the magic of Christmas. Also, giving back to Mount Saint Vincent.

What is your favorite memory from Santa at the Ranch over the years?

Kristin: Last year, my best friend brought her developmentally disabled son to PJs with Santa. He is 25 years old, but still believes, and had a wonderful time last year. Santa spent a lot of time talking with him and taking photos. This year, Santa remembered him by name, greeted him with a big hug, and again, spent a lot of time with him. It was truly heart-warming.

Tara: Like every year, one of my favorite memories is meeting the children of couples who were married at the ranch. I call those kiddos our Spruce Mountain babies, and every year the Spruce Mountain family just keeps growing!

Sarah: The guest list consists of repeat guests every year. Each year, someone new will come up to me and tell me how amazing it was, how we made it different but the same as the year prior. They love the upscale from the last year! They love that Santa is one of the best around!

Santa

Photography credit: Katie Corinne Photography

Santa

Photography credit: Sun Prairie Films

The Magic Lives On

As we reflect on another successful Santa at the Ranch weekend, we're filled with gratitude—for the families who joined us, for the incredible vendors and team members who brought the magic to life, and for a community that shows up year after year with generous hearts and holiday spirit.

The money raised this weekend represents far more than a number. It represents safety for children who desperately need it. It represents therapeutic services that help young hearts heal. It represents educational opportunities that change life trajectories. It represents hope for families in their darkest moments.
What began years ago as a way to support a cause dear to the Ames family has blossomed into a treasured Douglas County tradition—one that brings together the magic of Christmas with the power of community giving. Seeing children's faces light up when Santa enters the room, welcoming back families who return year after year, and meeting the "Spruce Mountain babies" born to couples who celebrated their own special days here—these moments remind us why we do what we do.

Santa at the Ranch exemplifies one of Spruce Mountain Ranch's core values: serving others from the heart. It's a value we don't just talk about—we live it through events like this, through our team members who pour themselves into creating magical experiences, and through a community that shows up to make a difference.

To everyone who attended Santa at the Ranch 2025, thank you for being part of this beautiful tradition. To Mount Saint Vincent, thank you for the tireless, compassionate work you do for children and families who need it most. And to our Spruce Mountain Ranch family—both our incredible team and the extended community we serve—thank you for believing that celebrations can change lives.

We're already looking forward to welcoming you back next year for another weekend of holiday magic and meaningful giving. Until then, may the spirit of generosity and joy we shared together continue to warm your hearts throughout the season and beyond.

Thank you to all our vendors and partners:

To learn more about Mount Saint Vincent and their mission to serve children and families in crisis, visit their website. To stay updated on future Spruce Mountain Ranch community events, follow us on social media or contact our team.