By the Charlotte Smarty Pants Team
Alright Smarties, we are going to let you in a little secret, CSP’s favorite places to see Santa. Visiting Santa is such a special occasion, and you want to be sure that your kids get to see a jolly ol’ soul and not just a man in a red suit.
I always look forward to our trip to see Mr. Claus. I dress the girls up in matching Christmas outfits and as we wait in line, we talk about the gifts that Zoe plans to ask him for – she even tells him things on Annie’s list. My favorite part is the picture that we pay $20 for where Annie is beat red and trying to leap out of his arms. This happened with Zoe until she was three and with Annie the last two years. I don’t even mind anymore as the other moms stare at me like am crazy as I giggle as my child screams. But it just wouldn’t be Christmas without it. So here are some suggestions from all of us at CSP.
One recommendation is the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont. Dana plans to go there this year. They have a Santa workshop on Saturdays from 2:30 to 4:30 where you can also see Santa while doing crafts, books, etc. They also have Santa hours from 6:30 – 8:30 pm and the gardens are lit up with Christmas lights. They have carriage rides and carolers. There is a fee, $12 for members and $15 for non-members.
There is also a good Santa at Bass Pro Shops at Concord Mills. Santa’s Wonderland is the real deal, you get a free photo and there are free games, activities and crafts for the kids. So get your fishing gear on and head up to Concord Mills.
Ashley takes her kids to see the Santa at Birkdale Village in Huntersville. It snows Friday through Sunday every hour on the hour. There are also singing bears every hour on the hour daily. Santa is around M – Th, Noon – 6pm, Fri-Sat, Noon – 8pm, Sun, Noon – 6pm. For you super smarty moms, there is a Breakfast with Santa on this Saturday, December 5th at 8:30 and 9:45am at Red Rocks Cafe and all procedes benefits Habitat for Humanity. For tickets, call 704-575-2870.
Other options are the Black Lion at Park Road Extension and there will be a Santa at the Shoppes at Morrison on December 12 from 1 – 4.
We always end up going to SouthPark to see our Santa. It is hard to recommend this as a Super Smarty place to see Santa, since the lines are always terribly long (we end up going there during peak hours), and it is expensive to get a photo, but it has always been convenient option for us. I also like going to see the same Santa so that Zoe doesn’t ask any questions.
This year, if you are a Simon Kidgits Club® member there will be fun activities like writing a letter to Santa, making reindeer food, coupons towards a photo with Santa and giveaways. This will take place this Saturday from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.in the Food Court.
Merry Christmas and may your Santa sightings be joyous and memorable! And please let us know about other Santas that we may have missed.
Check out our new Smarty Giveaway! What a great way to start the holiday season! Children’s Theatre of Charlotte is giving one lucky reader a family four pack to their newest production, Laura Numeroff’s, “If You Take a Mouse to the Movies”. This giveaway will run through December 6th, so enter now for your chance to win. Click Here to enter.
10 comments
what happened to the Santa at Blackhawk Hardware? Is he still around?
Unfortunately no, he retired about three years ago.
Unfortunately no, he retired about three years ago.
That photo is a classic and it sounds like you have many more of them displayed through out your home this time of year! I would be right there with you, chuckling away! These photos will be cherished for a lifetime!
That photo is a classic and it sounds like you have many more of them displayed through out your home this time of year! I would be right there with you, chuckling away! These photos will be cherished for a lifetime!
I am glad to know that I am not the only one whose child screams. My two year old screamed last year, and this year says he is scared and that he wants to go back home, even when we just get close to the mall 🙂
thanks for the great list of places to see santa, but I'll never understand the joy in a screaming kid on a strangers lap.
What is funny about children crying on Santa's lap or anywhere else for that matter? Finding humor in the discomfort of others is ridiculous…especially if the upset person is a child not to mention your own offspring. I love my children and wish them to experience joy in life…not sorrow. This sounds like a post that should be on Charlotte Crappy Parent Pants. Where is the “Smarty” in this???Dad of two who will never cry when visiting the man is the red suit. Their feelings are as real as mine.
Oh please! I don't think she meant that she found joy in seeing her children scream on Santa's lap! As parents we want to try and recapture all those special memories from when we were kids. To me, a picture on Santa's lap is one of them. They outgrow it and I think will look back and laugh like the rest of us. Merry Christmas! And thanks CSP for being "real" moms!
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