At the heart of so many families’ Christmas traditions are the annual visits to Santa Claus himself, when your kids may or may not look him in the eye and shyly plead their case for why they’ve been a good boy or girl (wink). And thanks to his many helpers, Santa can meet all the local children and hear their requests for the top toys or wishes on lists.
See below for some of our favorite spots around Dallas-Fort Worth where you can meet with St. Nick, and snap a keepsake photo or just say hello. But the truth is there are so many places to see Santa around town—practically at every Christmas event and festival. So for many more opportunities to spot him and snap a friendly photo, search for Christmas events on our calendar.
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See Santa in Dallas County
NorthPark Center, Dallas
When: Through December 24, 2025
What to know: Returning to NorthPark for 2025: Stories & Songs with Santa! Every morning (at 10:30am Monday–Saturday and at 11:30am on Sunday), he’ll step out from his cottage and take to the stage in NorthCourt to play some sing-along tunes on his own guitar. While you’re at NorthPark, be sure to see the children’s puppet theater shows: Scrooge, the Christmas Clock, and Yeti’s Christmas Spaghetti. To meet Santa in-person, and for photo packages too, you’ll find him in Macy’s Court. The prices go up as we inch closer to Christmas Eve, but it goes to a great cause: Children’s Health. Learn more here.
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SantaLand at Galleria Dallas
When: Through December 24, 2025
What to know: We love the full holiday experience here at the Galleria, not the least of which is the elaborate SantaLand that also starts with a simulated, magical train ride from Dallas, past the high-rise buildings and over the mountains, to the North Pole. Think The Polar Express. Once you arrive at the “North Pole,” you’ll exit the train and walk through a snowy forest toward Santa’s cottage.
Your admission includes a photo package. For the best experience, bundle your Santa visit with SNOWDAY, an immersive attraction with topsy-turvy rooms to explore.
And this Santa has special talents and offerings too: offering a sensory-sensitive Santa Cares day from 8am to 11am on Sunday, Dec. 14. Come on Thursdays to meet a bilingual Santa—wonderful for kids who are more comfortable conversing in Spanish—and, if you and pet children too, come visit Santa on Wednesdays. (Note: If you’ve got a bigger pup, please double check their weigh. Santa can only handle doggies under 100 pounds.) Learn more here.
Coca-Cola Classic Christmas, Dallas
When: Through, experience open through December 28
What to know: You’ve got to give it to Coca-Cola, their history of branding had a big hand in shaping our image of the modern-day image of Santa. And at this returning lights festival—a huge space with an outdoor lights maze, ice skating rink and snow tubing lanes—you can not only meet Santa for photos, but your dog can too, on December 17 (up to two pups for person). As you continue on your exploration of the festival, you’ll also find Mrs. Claus, who’ll be reading stories, and a Coca-Cola polar bear inside the igloo. Learn more here.
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Dallas Arboretum
When: December 5–24, 2025
What to know: Here, during the Holiday at the Arboretum festival featuring The 12 Days of Christmas light gazebos and the 50-foot-tall musical tree, you’ll find Santa inside a cottage at the German Christmas Village. He’ll be there on weekends from either noon–3pm or 6–9pm. If you prefer morning outings with your kids, come instead for the Breakfast with Santa and crafts inside Rosine Hall. Learn more here.
Dallas Farmers Market
When: Dec. 7, 14 and 20, 2025
What to know: Picking up fresh groceries from the largest farmers market in Dallas? Bring the kids along with you too, to meet Santa during these special days at the market. He’ll be there on:
-Sunday, Dec. 7 from 11am–1pm when Mrs. Claus will be there too.
-Sunday, Dec. 14 from 12:30pm–2:30pm, with a classic truck background
-Saturday, Dec. 20 from 11am–1pm
Or meet him on Dec 13 for breakfast at Hurtado Barbecue. Learn more
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See Santa in Tarrant County
Scuba Santas, Grapevine
When: At 11am on Saturdays, December 6, 13 and 20; and again on Christmas Eve
What to know: So at these special Santa sightings, you won’t be able to sit in his lap, but he will be sending out some special messages to the visitors at Sea Life Grapevine. Scuba Santas will be diving into the aquarium’s tank—one filled with sharks, stingrays and even rescued sea turtles. You can see him from the 360-degree ocean tunnel, and Santa will hold up a sign to let you know whether you’re on the Naughty or Nice list. Learn more
Cowboy Santa at Fort Worth Stockyards
When: Through December 24, 2025
What to know: Sharply dressed in a white cowboy hat, Cowboy Santa will be available in his workshop on the RFD-TV Lawn.
Mrs. Claus will be there reading stories too, every hour. See the schedule here. And there’s so much more happening around the stockyards, like the twice-daily cattle drives, weekend rodeos, and the return of the annual Stockyards Rodeo Rink—set aglow with hanging chandeliers, and fire pits and picnic tables nearby too. The rink will be open for the season through Jan. 4.
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Christmas in the Garden, Fort Worth
When: Santa here through December 24, 2025; lights exhibit continues through January 4, 2026
What to know: Want some really magical photo ops? In the evenings, come take a stroll through illuminated tunnels and along the garden trails for a giant Texas flag display, cowboy nutcrackers, and “dancing” LED bluebonnets. About halfway down the trail, you’ll happen upon Santa. He’ll be there each night through Christmas Eve from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Learn more here.
Gaylord Texan, Grapevine
When: Santa through December 24, 2025; ICE! exhibit and activities continue through January 4, 2026
What to know: Underneath all the lights filling the Gaylord’s glass atrium, head toward the Oil Derrick to see Santa in his big chair. Reservations are open for everyone, whether you’re staying overnight or just visiting for the day, but for the best deal, you’ll want to bundle the visit with more of the Christmas activities, like the snow tubing hill, snowball tossing and ICE! exhibit starring Buddy the Elf. He’s the focus on the seriously cool, seriously cold exhibit, ICE! Show me
See Santa in Collin County
Santa at The Star in Frisco
When: Through December 24, 2025
What to know: For any Dallas Cowboys fans looking to make some Christmas wishes (wink wink), the team’s headquarters here in Frisco is an ideal spot to say hello to Santa. He’ll be inside his custom Cowboys cottage—yep, with a blue and silver tree—nearly every day through Christmas Eve. See his full schedule here. But for the best time there, come during the Cowboys Christmas Extravaganzas, on Friday and Saturday nights through the 20th, for a full-on lights show, dancing from the cheerleaders and special appearances by Cowboys’ legends and Santa too. Learn more.
Heritage Farmstead Museum, Plano
When: Santa through December 23, 2025, but the Lights on the Farm festival continues through December 28, open 6–9pm
What to know: Come after sunset to take a stroll through the lighted trail around Plano’s historic farmstead, make your own s’mores and meet Santa in the pole barn. For an even sweeter thrill, come on the themed nights with special costumed characters. Is the Grinch more your kids’ style? Come on Sunday, December 21 for Grinch Night, starring Grinch, Max, and Cindy Lou Who, from 6:30–8:30pm. Learn more
See Santa in Denton County
Grandscape Stole Christmas, The Colony
When: Wednesday, December 17, 2025, 4–6pm
What to know: Sorry Santa, this day is all about this super-grumpy counterpart. A costumed Grinch will be scowling at guests during this early evening party at the Grandscape’s lawn. The trick is you’ve got to come early, because you’ll be grumpy to if you miss your chance to meet the Grinch and get a face painting (I mean, you gotta go green, right?). Plus, you’ll score some free hot chocolate (for the first 500 people, anyway) and sit back for an outdoor screening of what else but Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the 2000 version—arguably, the best version—starring Jim Carrey. Learn more
Grinchmas at The Cove, Little Elm
When: Saturday, December 20, 2025; 1–4pm
What to know: Keeping the grumpy party going, the Grinch will be making an appearance at Little Elm’s indoor waterpark. We could have guessed that he’s not one for pool parties, so he’ll be there to begrudgingly snap photos with your kids, who can also enjoy crafts and more Christmas activities that afternoon, all included with general admission. Learn more
Search our calendar to find even more Santa sightings near you.
