Many families in the San Antonio area enjoy a visit with Santa Claus during the holiday season, but how do you know which Santa will offer some one-on-one conversation with your little one? We’ve compiled a list of where to see Santa in San Antonio to share with you, our readers, to help you find the perfect man in red to spend some quality time with your child. Don’t see your favorite on our list? Leave the info about your go-to St. Nick in the comments below!
Where to See Santa in San Antonio
Christmas Light Fest
- Where: The Don Strange Ranch, 103 Waring Welfare Road, Boerne, TX 78006 (IH-10 West, exit 533, at Waring Welfare Road)
- When: November 24-26, December 2-3, 9-10 and every night Dec. 16-24, 6:00—10:00 P.M.
- Cost: Tickets are $27 per vehicle. Members of the military (active duty, reserves and retired) and first responders and their families receive a $5 discount throughout the holiday season. Tickets may be purchased in advance online and are good for any night. There is no charge for pictures with Santa.
- Let the glow of more than two million twinkling lights spark your holiday spirit this year by visiting Christmas Light Fest. Dazzling lights, holiday activities, flavors, shopping and Santa are sure to have even the Grinch brimming with holiday cheer Nov. 24th—Dec.31st during Christmas Light Fest, an annual holiday extravaganza nestled on scenic ranch land. Open nightly, the light spectacular features tunnels of twinkling lights and holiday displays along a 2-mile path and Santa’s Village, a rustic barn filled with holiday flavors, fun, gifts, crafts and of course, Santa.
Santa’s Railroad Wonderland
- Where: Texas Transportation Museum, 11731 Wetmore Road, San Antonio, TX 78247 | (210) 490-3554
- When: December 3–4, 10–11, 17–18, and 26, 6:00–9:00 P.M.
- Cost: Adults: $12, children (4–12): $10, and children under 4: FREE. Military discounts available. FREE for annual pass holders.
- Santa’s Railroad Wonderland is an extravaganza of Christmas activities at the Texas Transportation Museum. Every part of the 40-acre site is decorated, including the historic depot, the trains, the garden railroad, and three other scale model railroad layouts. Train rides and hayrides are offered, and Choo Choo Claus makes a special visit!
Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shop
- Where: Bass Pro Shop, 17907 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257 | (210) 253-8800
- When: November 14–December 24, 10:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M. (Sundays 10:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M.)
- Cost: Free
- You can visit Santa any day of the week at Bass Pro Shop! A trip to Santa’s Wonderland includes a FREE 4″×6″ photo as well as games, activities, and free crafts for the kids. You can find a full list of events and times here.
Santa Photos at The Shops at La Cantera
- Where: The Shops at La Cantera, 15900 La Cantera Pkwy., Suite 6698, San Antonio, TX 78256 (located in Center Court by BRIO and P.F. Chang’s) | (210) 582-6255
- When: Now–December 24. Regular Hours: Monday–Saturday: 11:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M., Sunday: 12:00 P.M.– 6:00 P.M. Special Hours: 12/16 –12/23: 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M., 12/18: 11:00 A.M.–7:00 P.M., Christmas Eve: 9:00 A.M.–6:00 P.M.
- Cost: Free with option to purchase pictures.
- Don’t want to wait in a long line to see Santa? Reserve your time with the man in red at The Shops at La Cantera. You are required to pre-purchase a photo package ($34.99 or $49.99, with a $5 off special on some dates) to secure a specific time to visit Santa, but you can simply show up and get one-on-one time for free. Pets are welcome to visit Santa on Monday evenings from 6:00–8:00 P.M.
Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the JW Marriott
- Where: JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa (in 18 Oaks), 23808 Resort Pkwy., San Antonio, TX 78261 | (210) 276.2500
- When: Saturday and Sunday mornings starting after Thanksgiving, 8:00–11:00 A.M., excluding December 18
- Cost: Call 210-483-6622 for reservations
- Enjoy a visit with a fantastic Santa and have a delicious, holiday-themed brunch at 18 Oaks at the JW Marriott Hill Country Resort and Spa. There are many other fun holiday events happening at this gorgeous resort. Call ahead for reservations and specials.
Pictures with Santa at A Wonderland Christmas
- Where: Morgan’s Wonderland, 5223 David Edwards, San Antonio, TX 78233 | (210) 495-5888
- When: November 25–26, December 2–3, 9–10, and 16–23, 5:00–9:00 P.M.
- Cost: Visit included with admission; $5 for 5″x7″ unframed photo
- A Wonderland Christmas features a nightly tree lighting, live entertainment, a puppet show, visits with Santa, and more. Morgan’s Wonderland was founded by a parent who has a child with special needs and offers attractions that appeal to children of all ages. This is a great activity for children who might be overwhelmed by sitting on Santa’s lap in a crowded mall.
Santa's Castle at Six Flags Holiday in the Park
- Where: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, 17000 IH-10 West, San Antonio, TX 78257 | (210) 697-5050
- When: Weekends and select days from November 19–January 2, Times vary with park hours. Check schedule for details on days and times. The park will be closed on Christmas Day.
- Cost: Included with admission
- Six Flags Fiesta Texas’ Holiday in the Park is a great way to see Santa and get in the spirit of the season. Take a ride on the Holiday Express train, have a cookie with Mrs. Claus, and enjoy a performance by the acapella group The Tinseltones while you are there. Santa is located in Santa’s Castle, and you have the option to purchase photos.
Santa at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
- Where: SeaWorld San Antonio, 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251 | (210) 523-3000
- When: Select operating days now–Sunday, January 1, 2:00–9:00 P.M. (See the full schedule here.)
- Cost: Included with admission
- SeaWorld San Antonio goes all out for its Christmas Celebration! Make a day out of visiting Santa and enjoy special attractions at one of San Antonio’s favorite theme parks.
A Very Hill Country Holiday at the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa
- Where: Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa (in the Springhouse Cafe), 9800 Hyatt Resort Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251 | (210) 520-4000
- When: Saturday evenings from November 28–December 16, 6:00 A.M.–8:00 P.M.
- Cost: Call (210) 647-1234 for more information.
- There’s no better place than the Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa to kick off the holiday season, so take a break and head out to have Fireside S’mores with Santa or make a staycation of it and enjoy all that this resort has to offer during the holiday season.
Holiday Market with Santa at Traders Village
- Where: Traders Village, 9333 SW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78242 | (210) 623-8383
- When: Saturdays and Sundays from November 26–December 18, 12:30–4:30 P.M.
- Cost: Free with suggestion to make a donation
- Get your family’s Santa pictures taken and contribute to a good cause by visiting the Holiday Market at Traders Village. You can also get a little holiday shopping in by browsing the many vendors selling gifts!
Caring Santa at Ingram Park Mall
- Where: Ingram Park Mall, 6301 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238 | (210) 684-9570
- When: Sunday, December 4, 9:00–11:00 A.M.
- Cost: Free
- Make a reservation to see a Santa who has experience with children who have special needs. This Santa is great for children who might have anxiety around strangers. Tickets go fast, so get yours soon. Photos from your visit will be available for purchase.
Santa Photos at Quarry Village
- Where: Alamo Quarry Village, 255 E. Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209 | (210) 824-8885
- When: View the full schedule for Santa’s House here.
- Cost: Photo packages start at $12.95.
- Santa’s Workshop at Quarry Village is located right near the movie theater (Regal Cinemas). Besides getting some time with the man in red, you can donate a toy or book to the Family Service Association’s Toy and Book Drive at Santa’s House or Learning Express.
Santa Photos at Ingram Park Mall
- Where: Ingram Park Mall, 6301 NW Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78238 | (210) 684-9570
- When: 10:15 A.M.–7:20 P.M. most days of the week (View full calendar of times here.)
- Cost: $10 non-refundable deposit (that may be applied to the purchase of a photo package) to reserve a time with Santa
- The Santa experience at Ingram Park Mall can be reserved online. You are not required to pre-purchase a photo package; however, you must pay a $10 non-refundable deposit that later can be applied to your photo package.
Santa Photos at North Star Mall
- Where: North Star Mall (in Macy’s Court), 7400 San Pedro, San Antonio, TX 78216 | (210) 340-6627
- When: Now–December 24, Monday–Saturday, 10:00 A.M.–9:00 P.M. and Sunday, 12:00–6:00 P.M. Special Hours: 12/16 – 12/23: 9:00 A.M. – 9:00 P.M.
Christmas Eve: 8:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. (No breaks for Santa) - Cost: Free with option to purchase pictures.
- The Santa experience at North Star Mall can also be reserved online. You are required to pre-purchase a photo package to secure a specific time to visit Santa, but you can simply show up and get one-on-one time for free.
Thanks so much for the info! I’m a first time mom and do not live in San Antonio, so this was VERY helpful!!
[…] on many of the events above, check out our Holiday Guides: Where to See Christmas Lights, Where to See Santa in San Antonio, and San Antonio Holiday […]
Our family had a great experience getting Santa pictures taken at Landers Photography (in San Antonio) this year. (By the way, we don’t work for Landers or get anything out of a referral – we were just happy enough with our experience we wanted to share.) It was $69 for a 10-minute private session for professional photos with Santa, and we walked away with all of the high resolution digital images on a CD. We wanted professional yet affordable photos, and we were pretty sure the long line and crowds at the mall would overwhelm our little guy, who had never met Santa. The photographer and Santa at Landers were great with our son. The photographer spent time developing a rapport with our son before the session, which made all the difference. When it was clear that our little guy was terrified of Santa, the photographer worked some pictures with Santa in the background, and since the photographer had developed a rapport with our son, he smiled happily for the camera (not realizing Santa was in the background). We got some great pictures we’ll cherish for years to come. A good possibility for you if this is what you’re looking for . . . .
Thanks for the info on this web site. Very helpful!
Happy Holidays!