# Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in Columbus, 2026

> We found 9 Santa outings for little kids in and around Columbus with 2026 dates: 3 breakfasts and brunches and 5 photo spots and visits, plus one worth the drive. None are free on their own, though some come with admission you may already have. The first visits start Nov 20. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 9 listings with 2026 dates; 0 without posted dates
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## Breakfast and brunch with Santa

- **Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Park Conservatory** at Franklin Park Conservatory, The Wells Barn, Columbus, OH. When: Sat Dec 19 & Sun Dec 20, 2026. Time: 8 a.m.–noon (timed arrival; arrive within 15 minutes). Price: Non-members $26 adult, $18 child 3–12; members $24 / $16; 2 and under free (still need a reservation); Conservatory admission not included. Chris Cakes flips all-you-can-eat pancakes for kids to catch; visit with Santa. Reservations open Mon Oct 26 at 11 a.m.; popular times sell out quickly. Official page: https://www.fpconservatory.org/events/breakfast-with-santa-dec-18-19/
- **Breakfast with Santa at The Joseph** at Le Méridien Columbus, The Joseph (Short North), Columbus, OH. When: Sun Dec 13, 2026. Time: 10 a.m.–noon. Price: See Eventbrite (ticket sales close Dec 6). Pancake and waffle station, cocoa bar, time with Santa; limited seating; refunds up to 7 days before. Official page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/breakfast-with-santa-at-the-joseph-tickets-1992426129187
- **Breakfast with Santa at Camp Lazarus** at Camp Lazarus (Simon Kenton Council, Scouting America), 4422 Columbus Pike Rd, Delaware, OH 43015. When: Sat Dec 5, 2026. Time: 8 a.m.–noon. Price: See pricing on registration page; registration closes Dec 2. Breakfast with Santa, games with Rudolph, photo with Santa, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, Scout skills. Official page: https://scoutingevent.com/441-2026breakfastwithsanta

## Santa photos and visits

- **Santa at Wildlights** at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH. When: Wildlights nights from Nov 20 through Dec 23, 2026. Time: During Wildlights (Sun–Thu noon–9 p.m., Fri–Sat noon–10 p.m.). Price: Included with zoo admission. No Santa photos after Dec 23. Official page: https://www.columbuszoo.org/wildlights
- **Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience** at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell, OH. When: Sun Dec 6, 2026. Time: Noon–4 p.m. Price: $5 per group reservation fee; zoo admission not included; advance reservation required. Sensory: Calm, comfortable setting for guests with sensory needs. Open to all guests. Official page: https://www.columbuszoo.org/events/sensory-friendly-santa-experience-0
- **Photos With Santa & His Merry Goats** at Easton Farmers' Market, Easton, Columbus, OH. When: Sat Dec 5, 2026. Time: 10 a.m.–noon. Price: See market. Official page: https://eastonfarmersmarket.com/event/photos-with-santa-his-merry-goats/
- **Santa Photos at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing** at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing, 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin, OH 43016. When: Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–5 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). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/0526
- **Santa at Oakland Nursery** at Oakland Nursery (Columbus, Dublin, Delaware and New Albany), 1156 Oakland Park Ave, Columbus, OH 43224 (and other stores). When: Sat & Sun Nov 28–Dec 13. Time: Noon–3:30pm. Price: No charge listed. Ages: All ages. Strollers: Garden center grounds. Horse-drawn carriage rides weekends noon–4pm at the Columbus store (noon–3pm in Dublin), weather permitting, and a camel visits Columbus on Nov 28 from noon to 3pm. New Albany adds a free Breakfast with Santa on Sat Dec 19, 9–11am, with no reservation needed. Official page: https://www.oaklandnursery.com/page/sales-and-events/

## Worth the drive from Columbus

- **THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride** at Dennison Railroad Depot Museum, Dennison, OH. When: Dec 3–6 and Dec 10–13, 2026. Time: Thu–Fri 6 & 8 p.m.; Sat–Sun 2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m. Price: Downtime $55–$75; Standard $60–$80; Prime Time $65–$85 (Coach/Deluxe/First); private compartments $595; +$4 fee per ticket. Ages: Everyone 1 year and up needs a seat. Drive: About 1 hour 45 minutes (Dennison, OH). Santa visits each child with a jingle bell. on sale since Aug 4. Official page: https://dennisondepot.org/events/polar-express/

## 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 Columbus?
None of the 2026 visits we found is free on its own. Santa at Wildlights is included with zoo admission, so it costs nothing extra if you’re going anyway. We add free visits as soon as their dates are posted.

### What’s the cheapest breakfast with Santa in Columbus?
Of the breakfasts and brunches with posted 2026 prices, the lowest is Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Park Conservatory (Non-members $26 adult, $18 child 3–12; members $24 / $16; 2 and under free (still need a reservation); Conservatory admission not included). 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 Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Park Conservatory (2 and under free). To skip a long line with a toddler, look at reserved or timed visits: Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Park Conservatory and Santa Photos at The Mall at Tuttle Crossing. 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?
Five listings start in the morning, including Breakfast with Santa at Franklin Park Conservatory, Breakfast with Santa at The Joseph and Photos With Santa & His Merry Goats. Two are evening visits (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

### Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in Columbus?
Sensory-Friendly Santa Experience: Calm, comfortable setting for guests with sensory needs.

### Is there a Polar Express or Santa train near Columbus?
Yes. THE POLAR EXPRESS Train Ride runs in 2026. Check each card for departure times and pick one that fits nap. A few are out of town; the drive time is on each card.

### 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/).