For our display, the table I use is 66″ long by 30″ deep, on which we display 8 lighted buildings and 1 accessory mountain (which occupies about the same space as a lighted house). This works out to ~1 1/2 sq ft per lighted building.

This gives us plenty of room to lay out our M&M and Gum Drop paths and distribute our elves (and other accessories) without the village looking like Rockerfeller Center when the Christmas Tree is being lit.

The Department 56 North Pole series village display combines beautifully crafted and detailed buildings, with more highly detailed (and very adorable) accessories, which should be admired from all sides. This will be even more important when they are lit up, since spreading them out will give the village a more subtle glow. If the buildings are too close together, their charm and warmth will be lost.

The value of your Department 56 North Pole series village display is more than just the beautifully crafted and detailed buildings, it also represents family memories from years past, and many years to come.

 The North Pole village is filled with all of the cottages, shops and factories you imagined existed as a child. The M&M Factory, the Gum Drop Factory, Santa’s Light Shop and many more all provide a glimpse into Santa’s magical world. Some of the North Pole village buildings are more than the intricately detailed lighted porcelain buildings that Department 56 is known for. The Gum Drop Factory has a moving conveyor belt that moves different colored gum drops from one side of the factory to the other, and the M&Ms dance around inside the M&M Factory.

 In addition to producing all of the confections of your childhood imagination, the Naughty or Nice Detective Agency is constantly on the look out to see which children are being (obviously) naughty or nice.

 Life at the North Pole however, is more than just work, work, work. There are plenty of fun things for the elves to do also. Whether its ice skating, sleigh riding, or testing the toys, there is always something fun to do at the North Pole.

 The North Pole village series also has a variety of accessories to both compliment and enhance your vision of Santa’s life at the North Pole. How about a path through the village made of M&Ms, or gum drops, or peppermint swirls? You can also get some Smores from Mrs. Claus, or peppermint sticks from some enterprising elves.

 The Department 56 North Pole Village series brings Santa’s magical world out of your imagination and into your home, where dreams and memories can be relived year after year.