(2026) FREE Fun & Photo With Santa at Cabela’s & Bass Pro Shops

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If you are thinking about bringing your kids to Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s, Santa will be there too! Kick off the holiday season with Santa’s Wonderland and the magic of Christmas at Cabela’s Stores and Bass Pro Shops. Truly FREE, a visit to Santa’s Wonderland includes not only a chance to talk to Santa, but also a free studio-quality printed 4×6 photo. You’ll enjoy free activities, candy cane, games, and more. This is one place where holiday magic is really, actually free, and we love it.

Quick Facts: Santa at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Near Charlotte (2026)

  • Where (Charlotte area): Bass Pro Shops Concord, 8181 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027, (704) 979-2200; Bass Pro Shops Fort Mill, 1000 Cabelas Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708, (980) 337-2600
  • Santa’s Magical Arrival: Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 5 pm, with a tree lighting, seasonal treats, and a free mini reindeer plush (while supplies last)
  • Free photos with Santa: November 8 through December 24, 2026
  • Cost: FREE 4×6 photo and free shareable video. Optional photo packages are $20 to $25.
  • Reservations: Free online at Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s (same booking system), available up to 7 days ahead
  • Weekday freebies: Monday through Friday, November 9 to December 18, 2026, while supplies last


See Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Santa in 2026

  • Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s: Santa arrives Saturday, November 7, 2026!
  • Free 4×6 high-quality photo
  • Lots of Free fun all season long!
  • Reservations open now! Make your reservation to see Santa at Cabela’s!

Saturday, November 7, 2026: Santa’s Magical Arrival at 5 pm. Come early!
In addition to Santa’s arrival, there will be a tree lighting and seasonal treats, and kids will receive an adorable mini reindeer plush for free (while supplies last).
November 8, 2026 through December 24, 2026: FREE photos with Santa at Cabela’s & Bass Pro Shops.

Santa at Cabela's
Photo Credit: Bass Pro Shops

Santa’s Wonderland Video and Weekday Gifts!

In addition to the free 4×6 photo, parents will also receive a shareable video of their child’s visit with Santa. The grandparents are really going to love this one!

Visiting on a weekday? Your kids will get a free gift at Santa’s Wonderland! Weekday giveaways run Monday through Friday, November 9 to December 18, 2026, while supplies last.

  • Weekdays 11/9 – 11/27, kids will get a Santa ornament craft.
  • Weekdays 11/30 – 12/18, kids will get a bass sticker-by-number.

All of these projects would be SUPER cute and thoughtful gifts for your kids to give to family members, grandparents, or friends.

Check with your local Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shop for their Santa’s Wonderland schedule.

See Santa and Where to Mail Your Letter: Video

A glimpse at our visit to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop

FREE Santa’s Magical Arrival Event

Santa’s Magical Arrival at Cabela’s & Bass Pro Shops is Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 5 pm. Bass Pro says to come early for the free activities.

The arrival event will include:

  • Tree lighting
  • Free giveaway: mini reindeer plush (while supplies last)
  • Seasonal treats
  • Various vendors
  • Free games and activities
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Santa's Parade at Bass Pro Shops
Photo credit: Bass Pro Shops

Free Photos With Santa and Visit to Santa’s Wonderland: Yes! It’s Really Free!

  • Make a reservation in advance for Free Santa Visits at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s. Use the same link for both stores.
  • Visits include a FREE 4×6 studio-quality photo with Santa that you will receive on-site.
  • A visit to Santa’s Wonderland includes FREE crafts and games
  • Use the letterbox to drop off your list to Santa
  • Also, get a shareable video link!

Bass Pro Santa Pictures

Want more photos? Purchase Additional Photos with Santa at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops

Love your free photo? Copying is prohibited, but you can purchase a photo package for additional photos. They’ll print right in the store. Packages are $20 to $25. There’s an option to purchase a digital copy, a package of Christmas cards, and additional printed photos.

But, remember, no purchase is necessary to visit Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops. No purchase is necessary to receive a free photo with Santa. You can have a great time with the kids and spend nothing at all.

Crafts at Santa's Wonderland, Bass Pro Shops
Photo Credit: Bass Pro Shops

Santa’s Wonderland Parent Tips: What you need to know before you visit with Santa

Kidding Around Guest Contributor Lauren Justus brought her family to Cabela’s of Greenville (now Bass Pro Shops Greenville) for a visit with Santa. Here are her parent tips: everything you need to know before you go for your visit with the big man in red.

Plan Ahead

In order to visit Santa’s Wonderland, Bass Pro recommends making a free online reservation with Santa. It takes just a minute to register and you will receive a confirmation email with your booking date and time.

Reservations are available up to seven days in advance. Walk-ins are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis, according to Bass Pro, but booking ahead is the best way to skip the wait.

Visiting Santa at Cabela's
Photo Credit: Cabela’s

How It Works

Upon arrival, one of Santa’s helpers will ask to see your booking confirmation. After your photo is taken, each family will receive a complimentary 4 x 6 print as part of their free online booking. There are additional photo packages available for purchase.

Santa at Cabela's
Photo with Santa provided by Cabela’s at Lauren’s visit.

Extra Touches

Before our exit, Santa’s helpers provided our children with an individually packaged holiday activity kit full of festive surprises. They were also given a huge candy cane and a “Letter for Santa” printout to send to the North Pole in the coming weeks! 

Santa’s Letterbox

There is a letterbox at Santa’s Wonderland so you can send your list! You can take some time to fill out your list right away and mail it, or bring it back to the store to mail when you’re done.

Do some shopping or enjoy the displays

Don’t forget to take a walk through the store before or after your visit so you can enjoy the large aquariums and wildlife displays throughout each store. That’s actually something that’s great to do any day, but even more fun when you’re making a day of it and visiting Santa, too!

Kidding Around Towns: Find a Cabela’s or Bass Pro Shops with FREE Santa Pictures Near Me

Greenville, SC:
Bass Pro Shops: 1025 Woodruff Road, Greenville, SC 29607

Fort Mill, SC:
Bass Pro Shops: 1000 Cabelas Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708

Concord, NC:
Bass Pro Shops: 8181 Concord Mills Boulevard, Concord, NC 28027

Savannah, GA:
Bass Pro Shops: 14045 Abercorn Street #1503, Savannah, GA 31419

Augusta, GA:
Bass Pro Shops: 833 Cabela Drive, Augusta, GA 30909

Use the Find a Store feature on the Bass Pro Shops website to find additional locations around the country.

Santa at Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s: FAQ

Is the photo with Santa at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s really free?

Yes. Every visit includes a free 4×6 photo with Santa and a free shareable video, and no purchase is necessary. Photo packages are optional and run $20 to $25, according to Bass Pro Shops.

When is Santa at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s in 2026?

Santa’s Magical Arrival is Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 5 pm. Free photos with Santa run November 8 through December 24, 2026.

How do I make a reservation?

Book a free time slot online through the Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s Santa’s Wonderland page, which both use the same booking system. Reservations are available up to 7 days in advance.

Where is the closest Bass Pro Shops to Charlotte?

There are two in the Charlotte area. Bass Pro Shops Concord is at 8181 Concord Mills Blvd, Concord, NC 28027, (704) 979-2200. Bass Pro Shops Fort Mill is at 1000 Cabelas Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29708, (980) 337-2600.

What are the free weekday gifts?

On weekdays, kids get a Santa ornament craft from November 9 to 27 and a bass sticker-by-number from November 30 to December 18, 2026, while supplies last.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Santa pics have become a holiday tradition for lots of families! Where will your family visit with Santa this year?


Holidays in Charlotte NC

Check out lots more holiday fun! The Holiday Guide to Christmas in Charlotte, NC


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About the Author
How does Kidding Around® bring readers high-quality and up-to-date content month after month and season after season? We have a dedicated team of writers and editors who regularly update our fabulous content to keep it current and relevant for our readers. This team combs lists of events, heads out into the community to experience new Upstate offerings, and communicates with local businesses. Many of our updated articles and event lists, like this one, reflect the contributions and hard work of multiple Kidding Around® team members.

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