Santa 2026 · San Francisco Bay Area

Breakfast with Santa, Santa photos and Santa trains in San Francisco Bay Area, with prices.

We found 6 Santa outings for little kids in and around San Francisco Bay Area with 2026 dates: 1 breakfast or brunch, 4 photo spots and visits and 1 Santa train. One is free, and one is already sold out. The first visits start Nov 6. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

6 outings1 breakfast4 photo spots1 Santa trainFirst visits Nov 61 free1 sold out

Last checked · How we choose

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 5

A quick photo

2 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Dec 27

After-dark Santa

2 evening spots · Nov 6 – Dec 24

Santa trains

1 train ride · Nov 20 – Dec 30

Nov 1 – Dec 26

The Santa calendar

Shaded days fall inside at least one listing’s dates (check each card for days off and hours). Dots mark set dates, like breakfasts and one-day visits.

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Nov 1
2
3
4
5
6Santa at Stanford Shopping…
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Dec 1
2
3
4
5Breakfast with Santa at The…
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Inside a listing’s datesBreakfastPhotos and visits

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 5

Breakfast with Santa at The Westin St. Francis

The Westin St. Francis · 335 Powell Street, San Francisco, CA 94102

Breakfast
When
Sat Dec 5, 2026 · Not listed
Price
Ticketed; see the hotel's holiday page
  • A breakfast buffet on Union Square with holiday crafts, treats for the kids and photos with Santa
  • The hotel's Sugar Castle display is in the lobby all season
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa photos and visits

2 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Dec 27

Black Santa at Fairy Winterland, Children’s Fairyland

Children’s Fairyland · 699 Bellevue Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610

Photos
When
Dec 12–13, 19–20 and 26–27, 2026 · Noon–7pm
Price
Adults $23, children $21, seniors $20, members half price
  • Black Santa returns to Fairyland’s winter festival, and this year he stays through the weekend after Christmas
  • Free hot cocoa, a snowball fight on Play Island and puppet shows at 2, 4 and 6
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Stanford Shopping Center

Stanford Shopping Center · 660 Stanford Shopping Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304

PhotosWalk-up
When
From Nov 6, 2026 · During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
Price
Photo packages priced at the booking site
  • Reserving a time online skips most of the line
  • Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 30 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

2 evening spots · Nov 6 – Dec 24

Santa at Glowfari, Oakland Zoo

Oakland Zoo, Rides Area · 9777 Golf Links Road, Oakland, CA 94605

After dark
When
Fri–Sun Nov 6–15, then nightly Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026 (on Glowfari nights) · 6–9pm; line closes 8:45pm
Price
Included with a Glowfari ticket (adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free)
  • Santa sets up in the zoo’s Rides Area during the lantern festival
  • He may head back to the North Pole early if it rains
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem

Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park

Christmas in the Park, Plaza de César Chávez · Plaza de César Chávez, downtown San Jose, CA

After darkFree
When
Every night Nov 28 – Dec 24, 2026 · Evenings; the park is open noon–10pm
Price
Free
  • Santa sits for free photos every night from opening night through Christmas Eve, inside a park full of decorated trees and animated displays
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa trains and the Polar Express

1 train ride · Nov 20 – Dec 30

Sold out

Train of Lights at Niles Canyon Railway

Niles Canyon Railway, Niles and Sunol stations · Niles Station, 37029 Mission Blvd., Fremont, CA 94536

Santa train
When
Nov 20–23 and 28–29; Dec 2, 4–6, 9, 11–13, 16, 18–21, 23 and 27–30, 2026 · Departs Niles 4:30pm and Sunol 7:30pm; about 1.5 hours round trip
Price
$40–$70 (general seating to first class), ages 3 and up; sold out for 2026
  • Antique coaches and open cars covered in lights roll through Niles Canyon at dusk, with music and refreshments on board
  • Every 2026 ticket is gone, so this one is for next year's calendar
  • No trains on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day
See details ↗

Checked Oct 29 on the official page

Report a problem
On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park
Free2Santa at Glowfari, Oakland Zoo
Included with a Glowfari ticket (adults $26, kids 2–14 $22, under 2 free)3Black Santa at Fairy Winterland, Children’s Fairyland
Adults $23, children $21, seniors $20, members half price
For babies and toddlers

Making the visit go well

1Go right after napBook a slot when they’re fed and rested.
2Talk about Santa firstLook at photos together so the beard and the big red suit aren’t a surprise.
3A parent can hold themLap photos with a grown-up are fine.
4Tears are OKTake the photo anyway. Plenty of families keep a crying-Santa picture.
Also this season

Make it a Santa-and-lights night

See all 3 light displays in and around Bay Area with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in Bay Area →
Good questions

Santa in San Francisco Bay Area: questions parents ask

Where can we see Santa for free in San Francisco Bay Area?

One of this year’s Santa listings is free: Free photos with Santa at Christmas in the Park. A few others come with admission you may already have. Bring your own camera where the listing says so.

Which Santa visits are best for babies and kids under 3?

Babies and young toddlers get in free at Santa at Glowfari, Oakland Zoo (under 2 free). A morning visit before nap usually goes better than an evening one.

Is there a Polar Express or Santa train near San Francisco Bay Area?

Yes. Train of Lights at Niles Canyon Railway runs in 2026. Check each card for departure times and pick one that fits nap.

How do you check these Santa listings?

Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in Bay Area · San Francisco Bay Area city guide · Visiting Bay Area

Get the weekend plan, holiday dates included.

One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Bay Area that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.

Every year

Santa visits that come back every year

Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted.

Black Santa at Fairy Winterland, Children’s FairylandNext: Dec 12–27, 2026

By month

More dates for little kids in Bay Area

Things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area in November · Things to do with kids in San Francisco Bay Area in December