they used to be alot of fun. Music, characters, great desert selections, special gift for members... Its been scaled back a good bit. Last year they only offered mass produced cookies and 1 ornment per family. There were still characters and they did have the music/dance party. Just another things thats been scaled down from what it used to be.
Personally I wouldn't drive from out of town unless you were going to make a weekend of it, but at this point I won't go (if I'm already down there) unless I'm planning on being in that area already.