Kris and the
Kringles
Five Hallmark ornaments — the complete Kris and the Kringles series, 2001 through 2005. Santa and his reindeer band in a Jolly Jamboree (#1, battery sound). Rushing through the revolving door to mail Christmas gifts (#2). Roasting marshmallows and making s’mores at a campfire (#3, QLX flickering light). Playing a wind-up player piano to Jolly Old St. Nicholas, figures moving back and forth (#4). And in 2005, navigating a hot air balloon while Santa hangs from the rope to reach the chimneys below (#5 Final, 6 inches high). Five festive scenes. All five here.
Kris and the Kringles (2001–2005) vs. Kringle and Kris (2014–2018) — Two Different Series
These are two distinct Hallmark series with similar names. The Kris and the Kringles (2001–2005, QX8112–QX2185, Ken Crow) is the earlier and more elaborate series — battery sound, QLX flickering light, a wind-up player piano with moving figures, and a 6-inch hot air balloon finale. The Kringle and Kris (2014–2018, QX9226–QX9446, Kristina Gaughran) is the later series — smaller scale, no sound or light features, Santa and one reindeer in quiet holiday activities. Both series are at Already Christmas. This post covers Kris and the Kringles (2001–2005), the earlier and more interactive of the two.
Santa, His Reindeer, and Five Years of Festive Chaos
The Kris and the Kringles series launched in 2001 with a band: "Jolly Jamboree" (QX8112) features Santa playing piano while his reindeer band joins in with jingling bells, root toot toots and rum tum tums. Battery-operated sound, sculpted by Ken Crow. The premise for the five-year series is established immediately — Santa and his reindeer not in traditional Christmas-Eve delivery mode, but in irreverent, joyful, activity-together mode. The 2002 entry (#2, QX8173, 4⅛" × 2¾") moves them to the post office: Santa and his reindeer rushing through a revolving door to mail their Christmas gifts on time.
The 2003 campfire entry (#3, QX7439) is the series’ most warmly nostalgic: Santa Claus sitting around a campfire with four of his reindeer, roasting marshmallows and making s’mores. The QLX flickering light evokes the actual campfire. The 2004 player piano (#4, QX8114, 4" H) is the series’ most mechanically delightful — wind up the piano to hear Jolly Old St. Nicholas played, while Santa and the reindeer figures move back and forth on the bench and the piano roll turns. And the 2005 finale (#5, QX2185, 6" H, Ken Crow) is its most visually dramatic: the reindeer navigating a hot air balloon while Santa hangs from the rope below, ready to descend to the chimneys. The largest ornament in the series — 6 inches high — closing five years of festive Santa-and-reindeer adventures in the biggest possible way.
“Santa plays piano and his band joins in with jingling bells, root toot toots and rum tum tums.”
— Description, 2001 Kris and the Kringles #1 Jolly Jamboree · QX8112 · Battery-operated sound · Artist: Ken Crow · First in Series
Tips for the Complete Collection
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01Remove batteries from the 2001 #1 Jolly Jamboree when storing — this is the most important maintenance note for the series. One collector’s warning is worth repeating: “I forgot to remove the batteries for storage! The batteries corroded the works and it no longer worked!” The 2001 #1 requires 2 × 1.5V button-cell batteries. Remove them every year at the end of the season. When working, the sound feature — Santa and the reindeer band — is the series’ most joyful interactive element.
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02The 2003 #3 campfire entry (QX7439) uses QLX format — plan its placement near a light strand socket. The flickering campfire light on the 2003 s’mores entry draws power from the tree’s miniature light strand. Position it near an accessible socket so the flickering fire light functions. When lit, the campfire effect on Santa and his reindeer roasting marshmallows is the series’ most atmospheric entry.
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03The 2005 Hot Air Balloon (#5) at 6 inches is the series’ largest entry — give it room. At 6 inches high, the hot air balloon finale is significantly larger than the other entries. Position it on an outer branch with clear space above and around it. The balloon with the reindeer navigating and Santa hanging from the rope below needs vertical clearance to read correctly and look its best.
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04All 5 Kris and the Kringles Hallmark ornaments — the complete 2001–2005 series — are at Already Christmas. Jolly Jamboree, the revolving door, the campfire s’mores, the player piano, the hot air balloon. Five festive scenes. All five here.
Every Kris and the Kringles Hallmark Keepsake
Band · Post Office · Campfire · Piano · Hot Air Balloon. Click to shop.
Ken Crow launched the Kris and the Kringles series in 2001 with a jolly jamboree — Santa at the piano, his reindeer joining in with bells and horns and drums, battery-powered, root toot tooting all the way. The revolving door in 2002, gifts to mail. The campfire in 2003, marshmallows and s’mores by QLX flickering light. The wind-up player piano in 2004, Jolly Old St. Nicholas playing while Santa and the reindeer moved back and forth on the bench. And in 2005, the most dramatic exit possible: a hot air balloon, 6 inches high, the reindeer navigating and Santa hanging from the rope below, ready to descend to the chimneys. Five festive scenes. The series complete. All five here.
✦ Part of our Collection: Hallmark Santa & Reindeer Character Series, Explored ✦