Visit Santa in and around Pittsburgh
by Janet Jonus Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
Santa’s House at the People Gas Holiday Market
Santa takes up residence in his house at the Peoples Gas Holiday Market in Market Square. Santa’s House is presented by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Have a picture taken with Santa for a $5.00 donation.
Santa’s House Hours are 1200-300PM & 400-700PM Monday through Thursday, 1200-800PM Saturday, and 1200-600PM on Sunday. Santa’s House is open every day through December 23rd (closed on Thanksgiving Day). The Santa’s House line may close earlier based on demand.
Santa at the Malls
Visiting Santa at a Mall has become a tradition for many families. Every Mall has their very own assigned Santa. It is free to visit with Santa, and to tell him your Christmas wishes, but a picture package has a fee. (Many Malls ban personal cameras so the only way to get a picture is by purchasing a picture package.) Packages start at around $30, depending on the Mall and the number of pictures in the package. Digital add-ons are available for an additional fee. Many Malls have an online registration system and FastPasses. Santa will be greeting kids and the young at heart at most Malls through December 24th. Check the Mall for Santa hours.
You can find Santa at the following Malls:
Mall at Robinson: https://www.shoprobinsonmall.com/event/Santa-Hours-and-Photos/2145532570/
South Hills Village: https://www.simon.com/mall/south-hills-village/stores/santa-photo-experience
Ross Park Mall: https://www.simon.com/mall/ross-park-mall/stores/santa-photo-experience
Monroeville Mall: http://www.monroevillemall.com/store/santas_workshop
The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills: https://www.pittsburghmills.com/event/Santas-Waiting/2145535183/
The Galleria of Mt. Lebanon: https://www.galleriapgh.com/events/photos-with-santa/
Clearview Mall, Butler: http://www.shopclearviewmall.com/events.php
Beaver Valley Mall: https://www.shopbeavervalley.com/event/Pictures-with-Santa/2145535211/
Washington Crown Center: http://shopwashingtoncrown.com/deals/santas-here
Westmoreland Mall: http://www.westmorelandmall.com/content/holiday
The Waterfront has FREE photos with Santa December 1-21 on select days and times. Photos are free, but donations are being accepted for Make a Wish. In the Towne Center. https://www.waterfrontpgh.com/sale/12-days-of-free-santa-photos/
Eat with Santa
The Allegheny County Parks have Cookies with Santa. Enjoy cookies and activities with Santa himself. Reservations are required. FREE. At Round Hill Park on December 7th and Boyce Park on December 14th. https://www.alleghenycounty.us/special-events/cookies-with-santa.aspx
Trax Farms has Breakfast or Lunch with Santa. Kids get a light meal, crafts, activities, and Santa! $9.00 for child. Weekends in December. Reservations required. https://traxfarms.com/events/breakfast-lunch-with-santa/
The Springhouse has Breakfast with Santa on December 7, 14, & 15. Enjoy a hearty Breakfast with Santa down on a working dairy farm. Reservations required. https://springhousemarket.com/events-bulletin/
Soergels Orchard hosts Santa at Breakfast or Brunch on December 22nd. $10.50-17.50. Reservations required. https://www.soergels.com/events/2019-12/#calendar
Santa Breakfast on the Gateway Clipper Cruise. Step onboard the Gateway Clipper Fleet for a special morning with Santa. Enjoy a hot breakfast, listen to Santa read a story, and dance away at the DJ Dance Party. Boarding is at 845AM on December 7, 8,14, 21,& 22. $15 for children and $30 for adults. https://www.gatewayclipper.com/holiday-cruises/santa-breakfast/
Notes:
Yinzer Santa Breakfast: See below
The Pittsburgh Zoo, The Waterfront, The National Aviary, Hartwood Acres have a popular Breakfast with Santa. In fact, these events are so popular, they are already sold out.
Many restaurants also have Breakfast, Brunch, and Lunch with Santa.
Unique Santa Experiences
Have your Picture taken with Santa and a Penguin (a model of the waddling kind, not the hockey players) at the National Aviary. Santa and his feathered friend will be at the Aviary on Saturdays November 30, and December 7, 14, & 21 for FREE pictures with admission. From 1100AM-100PM. https://www.aviary.org/special-events/photos-with-santa-2019
The Santa Trolley returns to the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington PA. Climb aboard an antique trolley and then meet Santa at the Trolley Depot. Bring a camera to take pictures! Crafts, activities, hot chocolate and cookies are included too! Weekends starting November 23rd through December 15th. $10-12. Reservations required. https://www.aviary.org/special-events/photos-with-santa-2019
Skate with Santa at the South Park and North Park Skating Rinks. Lace up your skates and head out with Santa at the South and North Park outdoor skating rinks. December 8th from 1200-400PM at South Park and December 15th from 1200-400PM at North Park. $3.00-6.00. https://www.alleghenycounty.us/special-events/skate-with-santa.aspx
Skate with Santa at the Printscape Arena at Southpointe in Canonsburg PA on December 21st from 130-300PM. $5.00 per person. Skate rentals are $3.00. http://www.printscapearena.com/skate-with-santa.html
Take a Santa Fun Cruise on the Gateway Clipper Fleet. Join Santa for a DJ Dance party cruise with a special treat and a meet and greet with Santa himself. On select Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays November 29th through December 22nd. Boarding time is at 100PM. $5.00-26.00. https://www.gatewayclipper.com/holiday-cruises/santa-fun/
Yinzer Santa presents Breakfast with Santa & Mickey’s Christmas Carol. Have a breakfast with Santa and then head into the O’Reilly Theater to watch the holiday movie Mickey’s Christmas Carol. December 14, 15, 21, & 22 at 1000AM. Tickets are $15 for kids and $26 for adults. https://ppt.org/production/66158/yinzer-yuletide-breakfast-with-santa-and-mickeys-christmas-carol
Skate with Santa at the MassMutual PPG Ice Rink from December 7th through the 21st. Check with the ice rink for dates and times. https://pittsburgh.eventful.com/events/skate-santa-/E0-001-132164722-1
If ice skating isn’t your thing, try roller skating at the Santa Skate at the Neville Roller Drome on December 11th from 630-900PM. Admission is $6.00, skate rentals are $3.00. https://www.nevillerollerdrome.com/New.php#santa_skate
Meet Santa Claus at the Heinz History Center in the Center’s A Very Merry Pittsburgh exhibit. Bring a camera to take pictures. Included with admission to the Science Center which is $9-18. November 29, December 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, & 24 from 1100AM-200PM. https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/events
Holiday Lights and Santa
For complete details on these Light Displays, check here: https://familyfunpittsburgh.com/holidayfun-top-seven-christmas-light-displays-around-pittsburgh/
Visit with Santa at Phipps Conservatory. Santa is at Phipps 1100AM-200PM Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and select extra days through December 23rd. Santa visits are FREE with admission. Santa also stops by during Phipps’ Holiday Magic light show for evening hours 500-800PM on Mondays through Wednesdays December 2nd through the 18th. https://www.phipps.conservatory.org/calendar/detail/santa-visits
Santa is at Holiday Lights at Kennywood Park. This year, Santa has his own place in the old arcade in between the Jack Rabbit and the Racer. (Santa is not in the Penny Arcade. There is an impressive miniature railroad display in the Penny Arcade.) Meet Santa and have your picture taken for an extra fee. Holiday Lights is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays through December 22nd and daily December 26th through the 30th. https://www.kennywood.com/holidaylights
Overly’s Country Christmas Light Display and Village has Santa in his own Workshop. Visit with Santa. Pictures are an additional fee. Nightly through December 23rd. http://www.overlys.com/general-info/sights-christmas-village/
Have a picture taken with Santa at Shadracks Christmas Wonderland. Picture packages start at $20.00. Open nightly through December 23rd. https://shadrackchristmas.com/pittsburgh-pa
Oglebay has Santa on Friday and Saturday nights from 600-800PM. Santa takes up residence in Hickman Lodge. Picture packages start at $10. Oglebay also has Breakfast with Santa on December 7th and 21st. https://oglebay.com/lights
Santa in the Community
Canonsburg’s Old Fashioned Christmas is a community-wide celebration of the holidays December 6th from 400-900PM & December 7th from 1200-900PM. There is a Kid’s Corner, a Holiday Market, a Food Court, and of course, Photos with Santa! https://canonsburgsoldfashionedchristmas.com/new-events
Washington PA Holiday Market is a Christmas Wonderland with food, shopping, carriage rides, and Santa. December 6th from 400-900PM (Santa hours are 400-600PM). http://www.washingtonholidaymarket.com/
Santa in the Park Hempfield Township is on December 6th 600-800PM. Join Santa for pictures, take a carriage ride, and more. https://www.facebook.com/events/hempfield-park/4th-annual-santa-in-the-park/296146907899795/
Meet Santa at Light Up Lawrenceville on December 7th from 400-700PM. https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/event/cookie-mall-light-lawrenceville/
