# Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in Chicago, 2026

> We found 10 Santa outings for little kids in and around Chicago with 2026 dates: 2 breakfasts and brunches and 8 photo spots and visits. Two are free. The first visits start Nov 20. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

- Last checked: 2026-10-30
- 10 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/santa/
- Christmas lights (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/christmas-lights/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/llms.txt

## Breakfast and brunch with Santa

- **Santa's Flight to Schaumburg** at Schaumburg Regional Airport, 905 W. Irving Park Road, Schaumburg, IL. When: Dec 5 and 6, 2026. Time: Dec 5: 1–3pm; Dec 6: 9–11am or 1–3pm. Price: $35 residents, $40 non-residents; 2 and under free. Santa lands by helicopter, then a buffet meal in the hangar. Registration is required. Official page: https://www.parkfun.com/event/santas-flight-to-schaumburg
- **Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District)** at Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, Alfred Rubin Riverwalk Community Center, Naperville, IL. When: Sat Dec 5, 2026. Time: 10:45am. Price: Registration required for everyone; infants under 12 months free. Santa tells a holiday story, kids get DeEtta's Bakery donuts, and families take their own photos with him, so bring a camera. Official page: https://napervilleparks.org/calendar/events/donuts-with-santa-0536271498

## Santa photos and visits

- **Photos with Santa at ZooLights** at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N. Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614. When: ZooLights nights through Dec 23, 2026. Time: During ZooLights, 4:30–9pm. Price: Needs a ZooLights ticket. Official page: https://www.lpzoo.org/event/zoolights/
- **Santa at Holiday Magic** at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 31st St. and Golfview Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513. When: Select Holiday Magic nights from Nov 21, 2026. Time: Times vary by night (for example 4–8:30pm Nov 21–22). Price: Free with Holiday Magic admission. Official page: https://www.brookfieldzoo.org/events/holiday-magic
- **Merry Museum with Santa** at DuPage Children’s Museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville, IL 60540. When: Fridays, Dec 4 and 11, 2026. Time: 5:30–8pm. Price: Price on the event page. Official page: https://dupagechildrens.org/family-fun/merry-museum-santa/
- **Santa's Workshop** at Schaumburg Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL. When: Dec 11, 2026. Time: 6–8pm. Price: $20 residents, $25 non-residents. An evening visit with Santa run by the Schaumburg Park District. Official page: https://www.parkfun.com/event/santas-workshop
- **Pizza & PJs with Santa** at Schaumburg Community Recreation Center, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, IL. When: Dec 18, 2026. Time: 6–8pm. Price: $20 residents, $25 non-residents. Come in pajamas for pizza, a photo with Santa and A Christmas Story on the screen. Official page: https://www.parkfun.com/event/pizza-pjs-with-santa
- **Schaumburg Holiday Market** at Meineke Park, 220 E. Weathersfield Way, Schaumburg, IL. When: Nov 21, 2026. Time: 12–5pm. Price: Free admission. Photos with Santa, food vendors and crafts. Official page: https://www.parkfun.com/event/schaumburg-holiday-market
- **Visits with Santa in Downtown Downers Grove** at Downtown Downers Grove, Downtown Downers Grove, Downers Grove, IL. When: Sat-Sun Nov 28-29 and Dec 5-6, 12-13 and 19-20, 2026. Time: 1-4pm. Price: See event page. Santa visits downtown on weekend afternoons from Thanksgiving weekend until the Sunday before Christmas. Official page: https://www.downtowndg.org/whats-happening/2026-events-downtown-downers-grove/
- **Holiday Family Pajama Extravaganza with bilingual Santa** at Linda Sokol Francis Brookfield Library, 3541 Park Ave., Brookfield, IL 60513. When: Fri Dec 11, 2026. Time: 6-8pm. Price: See event page. The library's yearly pajama night has stories, music, snacks and crafts. A bilingual Santa makes an appearance, so kids can come in their favorite pajamas. Official page: https://lsfbrookfieldlibrary.libnet.info/event/17662646

## Santa visits that come back every year

- [Photos with Santa at ZooLights](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/events/photos-with-santa-at-zoolights-lincoln-park-zoo/): next dates Nov 20 – Dec 23, 2026
- [Santa at Holiday Magic](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/events/santa-at-holiday-magic-brookfield-zoo-chicago/): next dates Nov 21 – Dec 23, 2026
- [Merry Museum with Santa](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/events/merry-museum-with-santa-dupage-childrens/): next dates Dec 4–11, 2026

## Christmas trains near Chicago

- [Christmas train rides near Chicago](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/christmas-trains/index.md): Santa trains, Polar Express rides and more, 5 with 2026 dates, ages, prices and booking notes.

## More holiday outings in Chicago

- [The Nutcracker with kids in Chicago](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/nutcracker/index.md): 6 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances.
- [Christmas markets in Chicago](https://littlesweekly.com/chicago/christmas-markets/index.md): 7 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.

## 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

### Where can we see Santa for free in Chicago?
Two of this year’s Santa listings are free: Santa at Holiday Magic and Schaumburg Holiday Market. Bring your own camera where the listing says so.

### What’s the cheapest breakfast with Santa in Chicago?
Of the breakfasts and brunches with posted 2026 prices, the lowest is Santa's Flight to Schaumburg ($35 residents, $40 non-residents; 2 and under free). Prices are from each venue’s own page.

### Which Santa visits are best for babies and kids under 3?
Babies and young toddlers get in free at Santa's Flight to Schaumburg (2 and under free); Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District) (infants under 12 months free). 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?
One listings start in the morning, including Donuts with Santa (Naperville Park District). Seven are evening visits (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

### 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).