Santa in Atlanta: Where and When Santa will Arrive

Santa Greets Visitors at Atlantic Station

What: Santa Claus’ Arrival
Where: Atlanta Area Malls and Attractions
When: Starting Friday, Nov. 4, 2011
Cost: Most visits with Santa are FREE, pictures are additional (Stone Mtn. Christmas has an entrance fee, but visits with Santa are included in admission)

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to start thinking about the holidays and that means Santa Claus is arriving at local area malls. Here’s a round up of where the jolly man in red will be, starting this weekend. Unless otherwise noted, there are no fees to visit with Santa, but professional pictures are additional.

Town Center at Cobb
Santa Arrives: Nov. 4. Festivities from 6 – 8 pm. Santa Claus makes his first stop of the season outside the Food Court Main Entrance!  St. Nick will be escorted to his holiday home with live reindeer at 7 p.m., and during the event, there will be activities for kids of all ages.  Plus, the first 200 children visiting Santa that evening from 7 – 9 p.m. will receive a special gift (no purchase necessary), and all guests will receive festive giveaways (while supplies last).

Santa at Lenox Mall

Mall of Georgia
Santa Arrives: Nov. 5 from 5 – 7 pm. Santa arrives as part of a Santabration event in the Village Pavilion beginning at 5 pm. Santa’s holiday home for daily photos is the lower level Nordstrom Wing.

Lenox Square
Santa Arrives: Nov. 8. He will be available daily in the Macy’s Court, mall level. The Pink Pig is already up and running (as of Oct. 29!). Rides are $3 for one ride; $5.50 for two rides and $7.50 for three rides. Proceeds benefit Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Stone Mountain Christmas
Santa Arrives: Nov. 12. Each evening Santa makes his grand entrance during the 6 pm parade and greets children until the Snowfall Celebration begins. There is a fee to enter Stone Mountain Christmas, but no additional fee to see Santa (although pictures are extra).

Gwinnett Place
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19 at 12 pm. Santa’s Winter Wonderland is located at the Mall’s Center Court.

Northlake Mall
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19 at 12 pm. Welcome Santa to his workshop on the lower level of Northlake Mall’s Center Court. The celebration includes Radio Disney, DeKalb County Fire & Rescue, Lakeside High School Marching Band, Color Guard and other special guests.

Santa Claus at Stone Mountain

Atlantic Station
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19 during the lighting of the Atlantic Station Christmas Tree. Starting Nov. 25, Santa will be in Central Park Mon. – Fri. from 11 – 7 pm, Fri. and Sat. from 10:30 – 9:30 am and Sunday’s 12 – 6 pm. Donate $10 to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for a professional photo with Santa. Children of the four-legged variety are invited to have their picture taken as well. (Parents who have children with pet allergies note there are NOT separate pet times, so kids could sit on Santa’s lap after a four legged child)

Phipps Plaza
You can see Santa from a far. Phipps Plaza is the only mall that takes reservations for your visit. If you haven’t made your reservations yet, don’t bother, they are already sold out (sold out in October!). You can register to be on the waiting list which will ensure you get on the email list for next year and know when they start taking reservations.

Christmas on Peachtree
Santa Arrives: Nov. 25. This is the largest indoor Christmas festival in the Southeast with more than 70,000 square feet of festival family fun, food and shopping. It sounds a bit like the old Festival of Trees and just like the Festival of Trees, a portion of the proceeds goes to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Cartoon Network is the signature sponsor of the “Children’s Adventure Area” – which includes interactive experiences, including a life sized toy train and appearances by Cartoon Network Characters.

African American Santa in Atlanta
Field Trips with Sue was asked by a reader about where to find an African American Santa in Atlanta. Since we didn’t know, we turned to the Field Trips with Sue community on Facebook and they did not disappoint. Here are several places readers suggested to see an African American Santa in Atlanta.

South DeKalb Mall (according to Michael Wilcox, this is the real deal!)
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19.

Greenbriar Mall
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19

Stonecrest Mall (Jennifer Lee Williams believes the African American Santa is only during the week, so call before you go to make sure)
Santa Arrives: Nov. 19

West End Mall