Looking for places to visit with Santa in Charlotte, NC? Get photos with Santa and share your wish list. We even have places to get totally free pictures with Santa, and we all know how helpful that is for the holiday budget!
We’ll be updating this list throughout the season, so be sure to bookmark it and check back soon for more places to see Santa!
Professional Photos With Santa, Charlotte, NC
Santa Photos at SouthPark Mall
SouthPark Mall: The Santa Photo Experience runs November 7th, 2025 – December 24, 2025. These are the classic mall visits with Santa with photo packages for purchase. Reserve your time slot in advance. Santa Photo Experience
- Caring Santa at SouthPark Mall (a special, sensory-friendly experience – exclusively for children with special needs and their families), Sunday, December 7th, 2025 9 am to 10:30 am. Make reservations in advance; photos available for purchase.
- Pet Photos with Santa at SouthPark Mall, Sunday, November 23rd, 2025 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.
The Santa Experience
For $199, each 30 minute session includes a private, professional 10-minute photo shoot with Santa, on-site letter-writing, decorating a holiday ornament and cookie with Santa’s helpers, and a same-day framed 5×7 photo to take home as keepsake. The experience takes place at 2400 CrownPoint Executive Dr, Suite 300 Charlotte NC 28227.
Free Photos with Santa in Charlotte, NC
Bass Pro Shops
Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s are one of our favorite places to visit with Santa. You can get a free, printed photo of our kids with Santa Claus; plus, your kids will get a goodie bag and have an opportunity to drop their letters to Santa in the mailbox. We think the Free Bass Pro Shops Santa Visits are such a gift to parents in the holiday season.
We have all the details on these special Santa’s Wonderland visits in our review.
Holiday Magic at Rea Farms – free photos with Santa
On November 22nd, 2025, Rea Farms is hosting a celebration including free photos with Santa, cookie decorating, train rides, visits with Mickey and Minnie, characters from Frozen, and more.
Visit Santa at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
See Santa at the Christmas Village located at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Visit him on Saturday November 29th, 2025 from 2 pm to 5 pm. Snap your own photos!
Check out Olde Mecklenburg’s holiday decor and lots of other Charlotte area spots that are totally decked out for the holidays. Here are Festive Restaurants & Bars in Charlotte, NC.
Free Photos with Santa at Blakeney Town Center- 2025
($10 Donation requested- not required)
Fridays and Saturdays beginning December 5th through December 20th, visit Santa at the Blakeney Santa House. Donations support the selected charity of the day. Take your own photos.
Friday, 12/5 from 5-8 pm
Saturday, 12/6 from 2-5 pm
Friday, 12/12 from 5-8 pm
Saturday, 12/13 from 2-5 pm
Friday, 12/19 from 5-8 pm
Saturday, 12/20 from 2-5 pm
Blakeney Town Center Santa Website
9th Annual Visit With Santa Experience: December 6th, 2025
From The Coalition For Cultural Compassion, visit Santa at The Grove Church. See Santa for free and take all the pictures you want! Plus enjoy cookies, cocoa, and popcorn, as well as games and crafts!
December 6th, 2025 from 12 pm to 4 pm. Reservations are not required but they are recommended.
Free visit with Santa at the Annual Ballantyne Holiday Spectacular
On December 6, 2025, enjoy a free visit with Santa, trackless train rides, holiday music, face painting, and more at Ballantyne Village.
Pictures With Santa at Lost Worlds Brewing: December 6th, 2025
From 1 pm to 3 pm, you can stop by Lost Worlds Brewing to visit with Santa and take photos for free. RSVP: Santa at Lost Worlds Brewing
Visit with Santa at the NoDa Christmas Tree Lighting at the Johnston YMCA
On December 7th, 2025, you can participate in a food drive and free holiday event at the Johnston YMCA. There will be food trucks, kids’ crafts, and an opportunity to visit with Santa.
Free digital images with Santa and the Grinch at Metropolitan: December 13th
On December 13th, 2025 11am-3pm, Merry Midtown at Metropolitan is offering free digital images with Santa, cookies, photo opportunities with the Grinch, face painting and more. First come, first serve. This event will be located by the Metropolitan greenway entrance between Dressler’s Restaurant and Clean Your Dirty Face.
Keith Clinic Chiropractic: 2025 TBA
We will update this listing with 2025 info as soon as it is available.
All are welcome to stop in for a free photo with Santa at all locations.
Events Where Santa is On The Guest List
Dine with Santa, see him on his sleigh in a parade, or just take a moment to share your Christmas list, you can do it all at these Charlotte events with Santa.
Kannapolis Celebration of Lights
From November 15th to December 30th, you can take a walk through the 250,000 dazzling lights that adorn Village Park in Kannapolis during their annual Celebration of Lights. Your kids will be bursting with excitement to ride the Winterland Express, a train ride that cruises through the light displays.
Your family can also enjoy the carousel, make s’mores, free visits with Santa, and Christmas carols.
Light the Knights Festival at Truist Field
The Light the Knights event with snow tubing, ice skating, holiday lights, and more runs November 26, 2025 to January 4, 2026. After the cost of admission ($14), photos with Santa are usually free. Bring your own phone/camera for pictures.
Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas
At Charlotte Motor Speedway Christmas (November 21st, 2025 to January 4th 2026), one of the most popular Christmas Lights events in North Carolina, you’ll be blown away by over 5 million synchronized lights as you drive through a 4-mile course. Plus, you get to drive on the iconic race track! There is also a Christmas Village where you can stop and enjoy an illuminated walking trail, photos with Santa, market vendors, food, and smores by the fire. Admission starts around $45 and pictures with Santa can cost an extra fee of around $10.
We love Speedway Christmas.
If you want to know more, check out our Kidding Around Review of Speedway Lights at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Southern Christmas Show
Admission ticket prices range from $12-$25, and discounts can be found by purchasing at Harris Teeter. The Southern Christmas Show, with hundreds of vendors under one roof for Christmas shopping and plenty of holiday entertainment, runs from November 13-23rd at The Park Expo and Conference Center.
More 2025 Santa Events coming soon!
Santa Brunches, Breakfast, and Meals
Breakfast with Santa at the Asbury. Multiple dates in December, 2025
You’ve been reading about all the places to see Santa in Charlotte, but there’s MORE holiday fun you don’t want to miss! ⬇️
Don’t miss any of Charlotte’s fun events! 🎅
Here’s our full Holiday Guide to Charlotte, NC.
