The jolly and festive times have arrived, and Santa is coming to Los Angeles to see all the good little boys and girls. Taking the family to see and starting a tradition is the best during the holidays, and finding your perfect Santa will only make the experience more memorable. LA and the surrounding areas along the Pacific Coast Highway are huge and offer a wide variety of Santa to choose from, and you even might have to see more than one.
Here is our favorite Santa, that is a must-see to snag a photo with.
SkyPark at Santa’s Village
- Address: 28950 California CA-18, Skyforest CA
- Date: 11/17 thru 1/8
Grab your VIP experience at SkyPark to see Santa and his entire village. The experience will get you a letter delivered to your home from Santa, VIP wristbands, an Adventure passport, and a surprise. You can skip the line around SkyPark and have a special reservation to see Santa, plus you get a crafting session at his workshop.
Santa’s Bungalow
- Address: 10250 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
- Date: 11/25 thru 12/24 Friday thru Sunday
Mr. and Mrs. Claus will be at the LA bungalow waiting for photo ops with the entire family. Grab a ticket which includes a 10-minute private Santa session, navigation of Santa’s sleigh, meet and greet with Mrs. Claus in her bakery, and sweets. This is a self-serve photo opportunity, so grab your favorite camera and bring it along.
Black Santa at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza
- Address: 3650 West Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Los Angeles CA
- Date: 11/25 thru 12/24
Grab your holiday photos with the only Black Santa in Southern California. You can book your reservation online and see all the special events held throughout December. Santa will be around starting on Black Friday.
Christmas in Brea
- Address: W. Birch St and S. Brea Blvd, Brea CA
- Date: Weekends in December
Downtown Brea will have a meet and greet with Santa and his jolly elves. Enjoy holiday performances and music every weekend in December from noon to 5 pm.
Santa in the Santa
- Address: Manhattan Beach Pier, Manhattan Beach CA
Manhattan Beach Pier is the perfect destination for a family photo shoot with Santa. Take the less traditional route by snapping photos in the sand with Santa as your little one explains their wish list. Reservations are needed for this experience.
Christmas on the Farm
- Address: 3370 Sunset Valley Rd, Moorpark CA
- Date: 11/25 thru 12/24
The Underwood Family Farm will host Santa during their Christmas on the Farm event. Santa will visit on the weekends from 11 am to 4 pm through Christmas Eve. Make sure to check their schedule and attend to all the fun that the farm has to offer.
Westfield Culver City
- Address: 6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City CA
- Date: 11/18 thru 12/24
Join Santa for special events at the Westfield Mall in Culver City. There will be a holiday PJ Party, an ugly sweater contest and more. Make reservations only for a special call from Santa and a personalized video. The Westfield Mall in Valencia will host a similar event with others, including a Sensory Santa night.
Del Amo Fashion Center
- Address: 3525 Carson St, Torrance CA
- Date: 11/17 thru 12/24
The Del Amo Fashion Center will welcome families to spread joy and take a photo with Santa. Reservations must be made online for a photo with Santa, who arrives on November 17.
Dana Point Harbor
- Address: 34555 Golden Lantern St, Dana Point CA
- Date: 12/9 thru 12/12
Visitors can head out to Dana Point Harbor for a photo opportunity with Santa in front of a holiday-themed backdrop. Although Santa will be around for only one weekend, the backdrop will remain up through December.
Santa Monica Place Mall
- Address: 395 Santa Monica Pl, Santa Monica CA
- Date: 11/18 thru 12/24
Santa will be at the Santa Monica Place Mall beginning on November 18. Have fun snapping photos with Santa and shop until you can’t anymore. On December 5, the mall will host a pet night where your furry friend can meet Santa. Check the website for rules about bringing your pet.
Surfer Santa at Santa Monica Pier
- Address: Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica CA
- Date: 11/27 thru 1/6
Have a beach side spin on your visit with Santa at the Santa Monica Pier. Surfer Santa will be at the pier starting on November 27 for free photo ops. This event is a part of Holiday Cheer on the Pier and is perfect for all families.
Miracle on Main Street
- Address: 2612 Main St, Santa Monica CA
- Date: 12/10 from 1 pm to 8 pm
The Santa Monica Miracle on Main Street is back on December 10 for an incredible Santa experience. Enjoy carolers, tree lighting and a free photo with Santa. The event begins at 1 pm.
Loews Santa Monica
- Address: 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica CA
- Date: 12/4, 12/11, 12/18
Santa will enjoy breakfast with the entire family at Loews in Santa Monica. Feast on a breakfast buffet, have fun at the antler-making station and snap a fun photo with Santa while you’re there.
Aquarium Holidays
Address: 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach CA
Take your little ones to see Santa in a unique environment. Santa will swim around the Long Beach Aquarium to see visitors before snapping photos. While you can’t sit on his lap, this will be a memorable experience.
Queen Mary Christmas
- Address: 1126 Queens Hwy, Long Beach CA
- Date: TBD (closed in 2022)
The Queen Mary welcomes all aboard to celebrate the holidays and take a photo with Santa. Their Christmas event will feature an ice rink, North Pole Village, and more for all the fun. On select Sundays, you can have breakfast with Santa and hear Christmas stories. Get tickets online for this incredible event with Santa.
California Great Santa Stroll
- Address: Hermosa Beach Pier, Hermosa Beach CA
- Date: 12/10 from 9 am to 12 pm
The Great Santa Stroll will occur at Hermosa Beach Pier on December 10. All families are encouraged to dress as Santa and take a massive photo op, all for a great cause. Proceeds will go to Michael’s Learning Place in Hawthorne. Tickets will include a five-piece Santa suit or a child’s t-shirt. While it’s not a traditional Santa photo, it’s a fun Santa memory.
When you’re in Los Angeles and the surrounding area, there isn’t an area short of a Santa. All these experiences will be perfect for your family, so you can have lasting memories of the holidays.