There’s nothing better than making memorable moments with the ones you love, so this holiday season why not go the extra mile for your family by taking them to meet Santa Claus in real life? We took the effort to go through and list of all of the best places around Detroit to take your little ones to meet St. Nick this holiday season and take home a perfect picture and a magic memory.
1. 1001 Winter Wonders
10001 Winter Wonders is an incredibly beautiful winter wonderland built right into 1001 Woodward Ave where you can come to meet and take a photo completely for free! This perfect downtown location is perfect for families saving their spending for holiday gifts this year, or for those that don’t have the time to venture out in the greater metro Detroit area for some of the other options you’ll see on this list.
Important things to know are that – one -this is considered first come-first serve, which means that you may need to get there early to avoid a crowd or don’t want to risk missing Santa – and two – that the line can start outside, so be sure that you and your little ones are dressed for the weather.
The standard hours to meet Santa are Thursdays & Fridays from 4 pm to 8 pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 12 pm –to 4 pm. If you need a sensory-friendly Santa that is prepared to offer an inclusive experience that incorporates sensory adaptations and wheelchair-accessible layouts, you can pre-register for December 2 between 4:30 pm and 6 pm, or December 8th between 2 pm and 3:30 pm.
Location: 1001 Woodward Ave
2. Blake’s Farm Santa Meet & Greet
Fun for the whole family, Blake’s Farm transforms itself into a holiday haven and winter wonderland to give its visitors an incredibly immersive experience. Here you can do a bit of it all, from picking out your Christmas Tree and getting some holiday shopping done, to enjoying some of their famous donuts, hot cider, and hot chocolate.
Here, for the price of $18.95 per child ( $7.95 per adult & children under 2 are free w/ one paying adult), you get to experience an incredible photo backdrop that looks like the North Pole, one donut and drink of your choice, a gift from Santa’s basket, and of course a chance to deliver a letter right to Santa’s mailbox! When you purchase your ticket you can select the time and date that works best for you.
The dates where the Santa Meet & Greet are open include:
November: 18th, 19th, 24th, 25th, 26th
December: 2nd, 3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th
Location: Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill, 17985 Armada Center Road, Armada MI 48005
3. Canterbury Village Holiday Stroll
If you can manage to make your way out towards Canterbury Village near Lake Orion, you may have one of the most magical holiday experiences you could imagine. Complete with incredibly light shows, characters from iconic winter stories walking around and greeting guests, and of course an incredibly personal visit with Santa.
Tickets to this fully immersive seasonal experience are around $20 for both children and adults, while children that are two or younger only cost around $1 to enter.
If you want to embrace the holidays and get into the spirit of things, then this may be the perfect place to take the whole family this season!
Location: 2325 Joslyn Rd, Lake Orion, MI 48360
4. Santa’s House at Birmingham Shopping District
This incredible experience includes a horse-drawn carriage ride through the park’s holiday lights and displays before visiting Santa’s house in Shain Park. The best part? It’s free for all those who register on their website, so be sure to register ASAP because this event is one of the most popular holiday experiences in the metro Detroit area!
Location: Shain Park, Birmingham
5. Sit with Santa at Lakeside Mall
At the Lakeside Mall, not only can you take your kids to meet Santa, but you can also bring your pets on select days! So this picture-perfect spot to meet Santa will give you an incredible memory that you can share with the whole family, even your little furry friends,
Tickers start at $39.99 for the experience which includes professional images taken in these professionally designed photo backdrops.
Location: 14000 Lakeside Cir, Sterling Heights, MI 48313