The Elf - Human Friendship Games
Where Kindness Scores the Highest Points
Once each summer, the snowy paths and candy-striped fences of Santa’s Village melt into something altogether more joyful — laughter, teamwork, and a little bit of glitter-covered chaos. The Elf and Human Friendship Games, now in their 8th annual celebration, brings together young elves and visiting children from the Elfling Exchange Program in a day-long festival of playful competition and shared wonder.
A Tradition of Togetherness
The Games were first organized in 2017 by Bernard and Rudy Winters as a way to deepen bonds between Evela’s elvish communities and the coastal human towns of Ainslo, Dromstad, and Rostlic. Four children from each town are invited to live in Santa’s Village during the exchange season — and the Friendship Games are the highlight of their summer.
Each child is paired with a young True Elf for the day’s events. The duos take on team challenges meant to build communication, confidence, and cooperative spirit — all under the whimsical gaze of cheering villagers.
Featured Events This Year
This year’s events included:
- The Peppermint Relay – A three-legged race with a peppermint stick baton that must be passed while giggling (yes, it’s a rule).
- Snowball Stack – A balance-and-build challenge where foam “snowballs” must be stacked using giant wooden candy canes.
- The Kindness Quest – A scavenger hunt for invisible tokens of kindness, which only reveal themselves after a good deed is done.
- Gingerbread Archery – Using soft sponge bows and icing-tipped arrows, contestants aim for gingerbread targets that laugh when hit.
Surprise Win by Team Cedar
A last-minute surge by Team Cedar — made up of elflings from Cedar House and their human partners — earned them the Golden Friendship Wreath. The wreath, braided from ribbons contributed by all the teams, now hangs over the Hearth Pavilion for the rest of the season.
Rudy Winters remarked, “Every smile, every shared high-five — that’s a win in my book.”
Closing Ceremony: The Lantern Circle
As the sun set, each participant received a hand-painted lantern. Elves and humans stood side-by-side, releasing them into the softening sky over the Rootbeer River. Dozens of tiny lights drifted upward, each carrying a whispered wish for continued friendship.
Update: 8-2-25