Taking pictures on Santa’s lap is a yearly tradition, even if it means a photo of a screaming, terrified child on St. Nick’s lap. I’m so lucky to be invited to a close friend’s annual holiday kick-off party. Santa is the honored guest and my girls get to sit on his lap and share their wish list. I’m happy because I get great photos with no lines.
If you’re not as lucky, you can find Santa at our town tree lightings, Dickens Village in Maplewood and even have him come to your home thanks to the Montclair PBA, but here are some other options to take a picture with the jolly old elf (and one with Mrs. Claus!):
Aunt Jean’s Toys & Treats
Location: 12 North Willow Street, Montclair, NJ, 07042
Bring your camera if you wish but Krisztina Crane Photography will be there to capture all those precious moments with Santa. Hot Chocolate will be waiting for you from The Chocolate Path.
Hours: Saturday, December 3 from 11 am – 2 pm and Sunday, December 4 from 11 am – 2 pm
Call 973.783.6100 to reserve a spot.
Cost: One photo of per family will be complimentary, all others can be purchased through photographer.
Women’s Club of Glen Ridge – Winter Wonderland & Pictures With Santa
Location: 219 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, NJ.
A fun, festive “winter” event complete with a visit from Santa.
Hours: Saturday, December 3 from 11 am – 2 pm.
Cost: $35 per non-member family / $30 for member family.
St. Cassian’s Christmas Corners
Location: 190 Lorraine Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07043
Annual fundraiser filled with raffle baskets, silent auction, café, baked goods, wreaths and poinsettias.
Hours: Santa will visit from 10 am – 1 pm and Mrs. Claus from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
Cost: Free.
Tea With Mrs. Claus
Location: Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center
Enjoy a story, tea & finger sandwiches, cookies and fun with Mrs. Claus! Each child will receive a framed picture with Mrs. Claus.
Hours: Saturday, December 3 at 12 pm.
Cost: $15 per child / $12 per adult. Please call the office at 973-429-0960 for reservations.
Breakfast With Santa at South Mountain YMCA
Location: 13 Jefferson Avenue, Maplewood, NJ.
Celebrate the Holidays with YMCA families and get a personalized gift from Santa. Free family photo with Santa by Paul Mecca Photography.
Hours: Saturday, December 11 at 9 am – 10 am, 10:30 am – 11:30 am, 12 pm – 1 pm or 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
Cost: $40/ YMCA Members and $60 for non-members. Cost includes up to two children per family. An additional $10 will be added per child for the third or child and up. Call 973.762.4145 for more information. Click here for registration form.
Homeless Animal Adoption League
Location: 56 Dodd Street, Bloomfield, NJ
Annual Santa Picture and HAAL Reunion Day. This event is open to all pets. Dogs must be on a leash and Cats (and other small animals) must be in Carriers. Share some light refreshments with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and all the volunteers at HAAL.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11 from 12 pm – 4 pm.
Cost: Free
Children’s Holiday Celebration
Location: Bloomfield Civic Center, 84 Broad Street, Bloomfield, NJ
Light refreshments, arts & crafts, face painting and pictures with Santa! Please bring your own camera for pictures with Santa.
Hours: Saturday, December 10 from 1 pm -4 pm
Cost: Free
Sundaes With Santa
Location: Little Scoops, 9 North Union Avenue, Cranford, NJ.
A fun celebration with arts & crafts, face painting, dancing, games, ice cream sundaes and Santa photos.
Hours: Friday, December 16 from 5:30 pm – 7 pm.
Cost: $25 per child. Must pre-register and pre-pay. Please call 908-497-7090
Sensitive Santa
Location: Cornerstone Physical Therapy Health and Wellness Center, 77 Brant Avenue, Suite 101, Clark, NJ.
Santa is coming early to town for a very special purpose. It can be quite challenging for families of children with Autism to enjoy celebrating the holidays. Santa has decided that it is important for every child to experience enjoyment with him, but in a much calmer, less intimidating environment. Sensitive Santa means that there will be no distracting lights, overwhelming movements, or loud noises bothering children. When meeting with Santa, only the private party and a staff photographer will be in the room. Instead of having families wait in long lines at the mall, there will be 20 minutes allotted for each child.
Hours: December 17 from 9 am – 1 pm. Please call and make an appointment so that your child will have a sensory friendly and private experience with Santa. 732-499-4540
Cost: Free
Swim With Santa
Who: Kids up to age 12 with a parent.
What: Fun family swim with Santa! Get your picture taken with him too!
Where: Geyer Family YMCA, 159 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair, NJ, 07042.
When: Monday, December 19:
- 10 am – 10:30 am
- 10:45 am – 11:15 am
- 11:30 am – 12: pm
- 5 pm – 5:30 pm
- 5:45 pm – 6:15 pm
- 6:30 pm – 7 pm
Wednesday, December 21:
- 5 pm – 5:30 pm
- 5:45 pm – 6:15 pm
- 6:30 pm – 7 pm
Cost: $10 member only. Call for more information at 973-783-7640
Santa at Christmas Ice Caverns
Location: 437 Route 46 West, Fairfield, NJ. Inide the Fairfield Home and Garden Center.
Have your picture taken with the most famous Santa in New Jersey and the tri state area, who has been taking pictures as Santa for over 20 years. He started in the Wayne Town Center Mall and was there until 2007 when the mall closed. Now he can be found at Christmas Ice Caverns.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 am to 8 pm and on Sundays from 12 pm – 5 pm.
Santa breaks everyday from 3 pm – 4 pm.
Santa at Livingston Mall
Location: 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ
Get your child’s photo with Santa and also enter it in the Cutest Santa Photo contest for a chacne to win a prize pacakage worth more than $2,000.
Hours: December 9 and 10: 10 am – 8:30 pm, December 11: 11 am – 8 pm, December 12-15: 10 am – 8 pm, December 16 and 17: 10 am – 8:30 pm, Sunday, December 18: 11 am – 7 pm, December 19-23: 10 am – 8:30 pm and Saturday, December 24: 8 am – 6 pm.
Mall at Short Hills
Location: Ice Palace exhibit
Santa will be at The Mall at Short Hills through December 24 for family photos and is available during all mall hours with limited breaks daily.
Hours: During mall hours. Santa will take a break to feed his reindeer weekdays from 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m., weekends from 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Willowbrook Mall
Location: Bloomingdale’s Exhibit Court
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm / Sunday: 11 am – 6 pm / Christmas Eve: Open all mall hours
Santa will be taking breaks Monday -Saturday 1 pm – 2 pm and 5 pm – 6 pm, Sunday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm.
Fair in the Square – Pictures With Santa
Location: Verona Civic Center (600 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona) during Fair in the Square.
Verona’s 15th annual outdoor holiday fair featuring ice-carving demonstrations, face painting, children’s wood workshop, local crafters & vendors selling gifts, pictures with Santa and Snoopy, music and much more!
Hours: Saturday, December 2. Photos with Santa from 2 pm – 3:30 pm.
Cost: Free.
Where do you visit Santa for pictures?
Know of another place Santa will be visiting? Send us the info here and we’ll include it.
Last year we went to a Breakfast Santa at a hotel — they have a very wide variety of food – buffet style with omlette station, etc., carolers and of course Santa. Looking for something similar this year. I do see the YMCA is mentioned above but $60 seems steep for 2 adults and a young child who doesn’t eat much. Thoughts? Thanks!
melanib,
You could try Breakfast With Santa at the Dickens Village event, which we provide the link for in the opening. St. James Gate offers it. Here’s the direct link: http://maplewoodvillagealliance.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/breakfast-with-santa-11x17v2011-1pq.pdf
It’s $10 per person.
Here’s a slideshow of last year’s event: http://kids.baristanet.com/2010/12/breakfast-with-santa/
The Santa at Aunt Jean’s is great, very gentle and patient. We liked the photographer too, she took some nice more candid-style shots.
grownup can take a picture with santa at the DLV Lounge Xmas and Holiday Party Saturday December 17th at 8pm – 300 bloomfield ave montclair