Welcome to year seven of A Letter Story, a Christmas experience in Old Wethersfield. After a mysterious snowfall, a Magic Mailbox from the North Pole will appear. Using clues in our Secret Poem it will be up to you to search and find it.
Join one of our favorite Christmas traditions. Families can register for the Magic Mailbox search and sign up to receive mail back from Santa. Personalized return letters include your review, edit and approval making it a truly unique and customized experience!
Letters to Santa, Old Wethersfield is an interactive family experience. Families can register to join a Christmas 'treasure hunt' to find a hidden Magic Mailbox. With the help of a Secret Poem, you and your child will use clues to search Old Wethersfield, find the Magic Mailbox and deliver a letter to Santa. *more FAQs at the bottom of this page*
The best answer: "I don't know?!" Less is more. Try asking your kids what they believe and enjoy the magical answers they come up with.
Registration for the search is per household and ranges from $10-$20. Return Mail options are available for $2-$10/per child. Free customer pick-up or standard shipping rates apply.
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Registration Opens
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Magic Mailbox Dates
December 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th
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Pick Up Return Mail
Orders will be ready at Jackie Home & Beauty
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Final Deadline to Submit Personalized Return Letter Edits
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Nice List Certificates and Return Letters Mailed
Last shipping return mail orders will go out
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Christmas!
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Our Story
Hello! I'm Deirdre Castoro, owner and creator of A Letter Story. In 2018 I began this for my kids and their neighborhood friends. The idea was to briefly escape the holiday chaos. I found myself stepping inside the imagination and wonder of Santa Claus and wrote what would become known as the Secret Poem.
Along the way, we realized an incredible opportunity. We had the ability to write a thoughtful and meaningful return letter to our kids that would leave a lasting impact. We had the power to lift our kids up, fill them with joy and leave them with encouragement - without them even knowing it was us. A Letter Story became a collaboration of love, that we have been calling Magic.
Seven years and seven poems later, the search for the Magic Mailbox has grown from just a few friends to hundreds of new families each year. The original Secret Poem from year one is now recorded in the library of Congress and a children's picture book is on its way.
The authentic excitement and wonder this experience has brought so many families, including my own, is something I truly cherish. If you've experienced A Letter Story, thank you for being a part of this journey. If you're about to join us for the very first time, I cannot wait to welcome you as the newest Letter Story Magic Maker!
Along the way, we realized an incredible opportunity. We had the ability to write a thoughtful and meaningful return letter to our kids that would leave a lasting impact. We had the power to lift our kids up, fill them with joy and leave them with encouragement - without them even knowing it was us. A Letter Story became a collaboration of love, that we have been calling Magic.
Seven years and seven poems later, the search for the Magic Mailbox has grown from just a few friends to hundreds of new families each year. The original Secret Poem from year one is now recorded in the library of Congress and a children's picture book is on its way.
The authentic excitement and wonder this experience has brought so many families, including my own, is something I truly cherish. If you've experienced A Letter Story, thank you for being a part of this journey. If you're about to join us for the very first time, I cannot wait to welcome you as the newest Letter Story Magic Maker!
Additional FAQs
Registration will close on Nov. 15th or when all spaces sell out.
Once registered you'll receive a packet in the mail with instructions, one (1) household Secret Poem, your child(s) 'Official Ticket' and everything you need. These packets are included in the cost of your registration and should arrive mid-November. These packets are for your eyes only, hide from the kiddos!
The Official Ticket helps us identify letters in the Magic Mailbox that are registered for the experience. Due to the number of letters we receive, letters without an Official Ticket will not be opened.
Yes. We encourage you to register separately so each household receives their own Secret Poem. Once registered you are welcome to go the Magic Mailbox search together. Sharing this experience with those you love is the best compliment we could ever receive.
New this year is a free Pick-Up option for Return Mail. We highly recommend selecting this option to avoid the stress of holiday shipping delays. Pickup orders will be available at Jackie Home & Beauty in Old Wethersfield from 12/13 - 12/22 during the shop's normal business hours. Note: if you select standard USPS shipping, all personalized return letters will require your review/edit and approval by 12/15 to ensure delivery before Christmas.
Nope! Every year we have more and more friends travel from all over New England, and beyond. If you're coming from outside CT we highly recommend making it a day trip to enjoy all historic Old Wethersfield has to offer.
This experience is designed for families of all ages. The clues are written to spark the imagination of ages of 5 - 9. The search is enjoyed by children and adults alike and often described as a whimsical family outing. As your children age and receive their poems year after year, you'll start to notice this becoming a family tradition and not just a letter to Santa. For return mail, we recommend Nice List Certificates for younger ones and/or those who are joining to keep the magic alive. The personalized return letters are incredibly special for those immersed in the wonder and enjoy reading how good they've been this year.