Are you looking for Santa events in the South Hills or the best place in Pittsburgh to take Santa photos? Or maybe you are looking for breakfast with Santa near you? From Virtual Santa visits to Santa on a boat to Santa on a firetruck to your traditional Mall Santa; we've got the list you've been looking for! Not only do we have the best places for you to spot Santa and take Santa photos in the South Hills Pittsburgh this winter, but we'll spend the season updating this list with actual photos of the Santa you can expect from each location! Do you have a favorite Santa that isn't on our list or a photo that we can share? Let us know HERE or email emilyp@macaronikid.com.
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Local Events to see Santa | Santa Sightings all Season Long | Breakfast with Santa Events all Season Long | Local Breakfast with Santa Events | Santa Shopping | Polar Express Events
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Santa sightings in the South Hills of Pittsburgh
Local Events Where You Can See Santa in see Santa in the South Hills (click on each link for more details):
🎄 Tanger Annual Tree Lighting And Santa's Arrival - November 9, 2024
🎄 Let it Glow Celebration @ The Waterfront -November 10, 2024
🎄 Shady Elms Farm Christmas Festival -November 16, 2024
🎄 Downtown Washington Home for the Holidays -November 29, 2024
🌟 Beverly Brite Nite - December 5, 2024
🌟 Joy-Thru Fairview: South Fayette - December 6, 2024
🎄 Mt. Lebanon Uptown Market and Holiday Celebration -December 7, 2024
🎅 Willow Wonderland - December 7, 2024
🌟 Crafton's Celebration of Lights -December 7, 2024
🎅🏻 Skate With Santa @ Printscape Arena at Southpointe -December 14, 2024
Find the most up-to-date local Santa sightings by using the 🎅🏻 emoji to search our event calendar!
Get photos with Santa and find Santa Sightings all Season Long in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas (Santa Sightings in RED are awaiting 2024 updates):
Photos with Santa at The Waterfront
December 2 through December 21
Every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday starting December 2 through December 21, Santa will be at The Waterfront. From 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you can find Santa in Town Center next to Carhartt. Walk-ins are accepted along with online photo time slot reservations for $5. All proceeds will be donated to Jeremiah's Place, helping those in need within the community. For more information, visit: waterfrontpgh.com
Photos with Santa at Galleria of Mt. Lebanon
Mondays – Saturdays: noon-7pm, Sundays: noon to 5pm, Christmas Eve: 11am-5pm
Santa will be visiting the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon from November 17th through December 24th during mall hours. Visit with Santa and have your picture taken with him. Santa does take a short break each day to feed his reindeer so if you head to the Galleria mid-day, make sure you check his schedule. Santa is located on Level 1 at Center Court and photo packages start at $39.99. galleriapgh.com
Where is Santa? at South Hills Village Mall
Photos available from November 10th - December 24th (closed on Thanksgiving)
Things to know before you go: Advanced reservations are strongly encouraged, and your child will receive a free phone call from Santa as an exclusive gift when you book online. Caring Santa will be at South Hills Village on December 3rd for children to visit Santa in a sensory friendly environment. simon.com
Santa's Wonderland at Cabela's
Daily now - December 24th from 10am-8pm
Experience the Magic of Christmas with a free 4x6 photo with Santa at Cabela's and a shareable video! During your visit, families can mail their letter to Santa and receive free giveaways while supplies last. Families can also enjoy the amazing aquariums and wildlife displays found in every Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s store. Reservations are required and can be made up to 7 days in advance. cabelas.com
 Santa's Wonderland at Cabela's 2022 photo provided by Kaitlin Debar |
Photos with Santa at Washington Crown Center Mall
November 21st - December 24th
Santa arrives on Thursday, November 21st, 2024 @ 6 pm with an arrival parade! Visit daily until December 24th. Cost for photos is $39.99 December/$33.99 November. Bring your fur baby for photos with Santa on select pet photos nights and stay tuned for Sensory Santa visit times. shopwashingtoncrown.com
Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
Saturdays & Sundays starting Black Friday through December 22nd
Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s stockings are hung by the trolleys with care with the knowledge that Santa Claus will soon be there! While aboard a beautifully restored antique streetcar, visitors will get to meet Santa Claus and a few of his friends! Santa will be happy to have visitors take his picture, so make sure you remember to bring your camera. You can also stop by the museum’s large Lionel toy train layout, view the wonderful LEGO layout built by Steel City Lug, Pittsburgh Area’s Adult LEGO User Group. Children can do a holiday craft and everyone can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets include a second festive trolley ride aboard the Yuletide Shuttle. For the first time, the Trolley Display Building will be open during Santa Trolley, so visitors can enjoy the rest of the collection as well! Adults $25, Children $23. pa-trolley.org
 Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 2015 |
Season's Greetings Saturdays at National Aviary
Saturdays in December from 11 am - 3 pm
Get your wish list and cameras ready… Santa and his penguin help are coming to the National Aviary! Saturdays before Christmas, visitors will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa AND a penguin! Bring your camera for a new twist on this fun holiday tradition. aviary.org
Saturdays with Santa at Heinz History Center
Saturdays starting November 18th from 10:30am - 1:30pm
Visit Santa this holiday season every Saturday at the History Center. Stop by the History Center’s A Very Merry Pittsburgh for a photo with Old Saint Nick sitting in an exact replica of the chair from Kaufmann’s Santaland, then explore artifacts that highlight the region’s holiday traditions. Santa visits are included with regular museum admission. heinzhistorycenter.org
Santa Fun Cruise and Tour on the Gateway Clipper
Saturdays & Sundays in November & December
This special Pittsburgh holiday tradition includes a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus while enjoying a 2-hour cruise sailing the Three Rivers! Aboard this holiday Pittsburgh riverboat tour, the kids will enjoy a DJ dance party and a special treat from Santa Claus! Cost is $35/adults and $20 for children up to age 12. gatewayclipper.com
PGH Santa Claus virtual
A live visit with Santa from the comfort and safety of your own home!
Breakfast with Santa (and Lunch and Dinner with Santa) in the South Hills of Pittsburgh
Local Breakfast with Santa Events in the South Hills area this Holiday Season:
🎅 Breakfast with Santa @ Salvatore's Events and Catering - December 14, 2024
🎅 South Side Kids Breakfast with Santa - December 14, 2024
🎅🏻 Breakfast with Santa at The Spring House -December 15, 2024
Breakfast with Santa events happening all season long:
Breakfast and Lunch with Santa at The Hard Rock Cafe
Saturdays and Sundays November 30th through December 22nd 9am and 12:30pm
The Hard Rock Cafe welcomes SANTA back for this Pittsburgh holiday tradition of breakfast and lunch with Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe. Don’t miss this special Christmas event as Santa spends special moments with every child and his list of the good little boys and girls during their fabulous buffet spread. We've attended in previous years and our kids LOVED talking to Santa in awe as he told them exactly what was on their wish lists! Cost starts at $27.50. Book your reservations through Open Table. opentable.com/hard-rock-cafe-pittsburgh
 Family photos with Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe Pittsburgh |
Dinner with Santa at Kennywood's Holiday Lights
This is an additional add-on to Holiday Lights tickets, but it is so worth it and quite possibly one of the most underrated Santa experiences in Pittsburgh! Check out our Santa photos here!
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Breakfast or Lunch with Santa at the Zoo
Saturdays & Sundays in December; Breakfast 9:30-11 am and Lunch noon - 1:30
Enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch buffet, meet ambassador animals, write a letter to Santa, and deliver it to him right at the Zoo! This event sells out quickly, so we suggest booking this in advance! pittsburghzoo.org
Santa Shopping (Shop around for your favorite Santa)
Everyone wants to know where they can find the best Santa to take their kids to so we're helping you "Santa Shop" by providing you with photos of Santa from various locations and events. Please note this is designed to be a fun starting point for your holiday adventures and while we will always share the most recent information we are given, we can NOT guarantee that you will have the same Santa experience. If you would like to submit your Santa photo to be featured, you can do that HERE.
 | Chapon's Greenhouse Santa Photo by Kelly Caruso |
 | Shady Elms Farms Santa, 2022 Photo by Kelly Caruso |
More Santa Fun
💌 Letters to Santa Bethel Park
Write your letter to Santa and stick it in this outdoor mailbox located in Bethel Park. Leave your address and a SASE and you may receive a reply back!
Alexa Santa engagements:
Call Santa - enable this skill and say “Alexa, call Santa” and Alexa will connect you to Old St. Nick and all his friends at the North Pole.
Santa Claus - enable this skill and say “Alexa, start Santa Claus.” Alexa will ask your kid a series of questions to determine whether they are on the naughty or nice list!
Christmas Countdown - enable this skill and ask “Alexa, how many sleeps until Christmas?” to launch the Christmas Countdown Skill where she will tell you how many sleeps until Christmas and your kids will receive an update from Santa himself!
The Night Before Christmas - enable this skill and say “Alexa, Open The Night Before Christmas” to hear a three-minute version of the poem by Clement Clarke Moore
Get your FREE printable personalized letter from Santa HERE!
Where is your favorite place to visit with and get your picture taken with Santa in the South Hills? Do you have a favorite Santa? If he's not on our list, please let us know! Email emilyp@macaronikid.com with SANTA in the subject line, and we'll update our list ASAP! If you have a photo you'd like to include for other parents to see Santa before the visit, we'd love to include that too!
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Find more Holly Jolly Holiday Fun below!
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