menupix.com

Santa Claus, Ind. Town Hall (Photo courtesy of menupix.com) (December 4, 2012)

SANTA CLAUS, Ind. (AP) — A southern Indiana town that postmarks thousands of pieces of Christmas mail each year will get a guest spot on the Travel Channel — but not until next year.

A crew from the Travel Channel will be in Santa Claus, Ind., this weekend to film the town's 22-foot Santa Claus statue and Santa's Candy Castle. Both opened in December 1935.

The castle will host a fruitcake-eating contest that day.

Filming also will take place at the Santa Claus Land of Lights, at a local campground and at other holiday attractions.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/RxjAm7 ) the footage is part of a new special called "Christmas Showdown" that highlights the best holiday events in the country. It won't air until next year.