# Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in Birmingham, 2026

> We found 5 Santa outings for little kids in and around Birmingham with 2026 dates: 1 breakfast or brunch, 2 photo spots and visits and 2 Santa trains. None are free on their own, though some come with admission you may already have. The first visits start Nov 13. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 5 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/santa/
- Christmas lights (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/christmas-lights/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/birmingham/llms.txt

## Breakfast and brunch with Santa

- **Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University** at Samford University Rotunda Club, Homewood, AL. When: Sat Dec 5, 2026. Time: 8 a.m.–noon. Price: See registration. Buffet, activities, complimentary photo with Santa. Official page: https://business.homewoodchamber.org/events/details/breakfast-with-santa-presented-by-samford-university-2735

## Santa photos and visits

- **Santa at Glow Wild Holiday Village** at Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, AL. When: Select Glow Wild nights (schedule on zoo site). Time: 5–9 p.m. Price: Included with Glow Wild ticket. Official page: https://www.birminghamzoo.com/event/glow-wild-a-holiday-lantern-festival-for-everyone-2/
- **Santa Photos at Riverchase Galleria** at Riverchase Galleria, 3000 Riverchase Galleria, Hoover, AL 35244. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: See photo packages on the booking page. Walk-ups welcome; booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot). Pet photo nights on 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/0119

## Santa trains and the Polar Express

- **North Pole Express** at Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum (Calera Depot), Calera, AL. When: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays Nov 13 – Dec 20, 2026. Time: Departures 5, 6:30, 8 p.m. Earliest start: 5 p.m. departure. Price: Coach $30; entertainment coach $40; first class $50 (ages 2+); premium table car $250 per table of 4. Christmas story and carols; Santa, Mrs. Claus and elves board at the lit North Pole for photos with every child. No restrooms on train. About 35 minutes south of Birmingham. Official page: https://www.hodrrm.org/north-pole-express
- **Christmas at the Station** at Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, Calera, AL. When: Sat Dec 5, 12, 19, 2026. Time: Departures 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Price: See tickets (differs from North Pole Express). Daytime option: decorated train ride, Santa photo on museum grounds, narrow-gauge steam train down Candy Cane Lane, food trucks. Official page: https://www.hodrrm.org/christmas-at-the-station

## About this list
- Published by Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/). Free weekly lists for kids ages 0–6, city by city.
- How we choose and check listings, and how to send a correction: https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/ (corrections: hello@littlesweekly.com).
- Sponsored spots are labeled on the HTML pages and are not part of this editorial list.
- How to cite: “According to Littles Weekly (https://littlesweekly.com/…), …” and link the page you quote.

## FAQ

### Is there a free Santa visit in Birmingham?
None of the 2026 visits we found is free on its own. Santa at Glow Wild Holiday Village is included with Glow Wild ticket, so it costs nothing extra if you’re going anyway. We add free visits as soon as their dates are posted.

### Which Santa visits are best for babies and kids under 3?
To skip a long line with a toddler, look at reserved or timed visits: Santa Photos at Riverchase Galleria. A morning visit before nap usually goes better than an evening one.

### When is the best time to see Santa with a toddler who goes to bed early?
Three listings start in the morning, including Christmas at the Station, Breakfast with Santa presented by Samford University and Santa Photos at Riverchase Galleria. Two are evening visits (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

### Is there a Polar Express or Santa train near Birmingham?
Yes. North Pole Express and Christmas at the Station run 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 19, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. [How we choose and check](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).