Cartoon Santa in a big red chair beside a Christmas tree, with kids waving and a sleigh flying past the window
Santa 2026 · Dayton

Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in Dayton, with prices.

We found 7 Santa outings for little kids in and around Dayton with 2026 dates: all photo spots and visits. None are free on their own, though some come with admission you may already have. The first visits start Nov 13. One more ran last season but hasn’t posted 2026 dates yet. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

7 outings7 photo spotsFirst visits Nov 13

Last checked · none is free on its own · How we choose

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

A quick photo

3 daytime spots · Nov 13 – Dec 24

After-dark Santa

4 evening spots · Nov 13 – Jan 2

Nov 8 – Dec 26

The Santa calendar

Shaded days fall inside at least one listing’s dates (check each card for days off and hours).

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Inside a listing’s dates

Santa photos and visits

3 daytime spots · Nov 13 – Dec 24

Visit with Santa (book ahead)

Dayton Mall · 2700 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton, OH 45459

PhotosBook ahead
When
Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving) · Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
Photo packages (prices not posted)
  • Reservations open now
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at The Mall at Fairfield Commons

The Mall at Fairfield Commons · 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek, OH 45431

PhotosWalk-upSensory-friendly
When
Nov 13–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving) · Most days 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page
Price
See photo packages on the booking page
Sensory
Sensory-friendly session (Sensitive Santa): Sun Dec 6 9–10 a.m.; reduced lights and music, smaller crowds, advance registration required, no purchase required to book.
  • Walk-ups welcome
  • booking a 15-minute slot online is encouraged (a few families share each slot)
  • Pet photo nights on 3 evenings (Dec 7, Dec 14, Dec 21)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at The Greene Town Center

The Greene Town Center · 4382 Juniper Way, Beavercreek, OH 45440

PhotosWalk-up
When
Nov 20–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; closed Thanksgiving) · Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 10 a.m.–4 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)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

4 evening spots · Nov 13 – Jan 2

Santa at A Carillon Christmas

Carillon Historical Park, Heritage Center · 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409

After darkBring your camera
When
Nov 24 – Dec 23, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving) · 5–9 p.m.
Price
Included with admission: adults $14, seniors $12, kids 3–17 $10, 2 and under free
  • Santa sits in front of the Dayton-made toy collection
  • bring your own camera for a free photo
  • Also: Carillon Park Railroad mile-long narrated ride ($5 per person per ride) and Midnight Express miniature train
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Deck the Diamond

Day Air Ballpark · Dayton, OH

After dark
When
Select nights Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 (Santa nights per event calendar) · Mon–Thu 6–9 p.m.; Fri–Sun 5:30–9 p.m.
Price
Included with $13.50 admission (2 and under free); North Pole Express train extra
  • Meet Santa and photos, letters to Santa, ornament craft, North Pole Express kiddie train
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa's Workshop at Clifton Mill

Historic Clifton Mill · Clifton, OH (Greene County)

After dark
When
Nightly Nov 27 – Dec 23, 2026 · 6–9 p.m.
Price
Included with $15 admission (ages 4+); 3 and under free
  • Peek into Santa's Workshop to see a live Santa every night until the night before Christmas Eve
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa's Workshop at Christmas Glow

Land of Illusion · Middletown, OH

After dark
When
Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026 · 6–10 p.m.
Price
See ticket page
  • Christmas Village with Santa's Workshop and Polar Petting Zoo
  • village closed Dec 26–30 (drive-thru only)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Dates not posted yet
  • Breakfast with Santa at 2nd Street Market · 2nd Street Market (Five Rivers MetroParks) Dates not posted yet — check the official page (metroparks.org).

It ran last season. We’ll add it when 2026 dates go up.

On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Santa at A Carillon Christmas
Included with admission: adults $14, seniors $12, kids 3–17 $10, 2 and under free2Santa at Deck the Diamond
Included with $13.50 admission (2 and under free); North Pole Express train extra3Santa's Workshop at Clifton Mill
Included with $15 admission (ages 4+); 3 and under free
For babies and toddlers

Making the visit go well

1Go right after napPick a slot when they’re fed and rested, not at the end of a long day out.
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 still count, and they’re cute.
4Tears are OKSnap the photo anyway. Crying-Santa pictures are a holiday tradition.
Also this season

Make it a Santa-and-lights night

See all 4 light displays in and around Dayton with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in Dayton →
Good questions

Santa in Dayton: questions parents ask

Is there a free Santa visit in Dayton?

None of the 2026 visits we found is free on its own. Santa at A Carillon Christmas is included with admission: adults $14, seniors $12, kids 3–17 $10, 2 and under free; Santa at Deck the Diamond is included with $13.50 admission (2 and under free); Santa's Workshop at Clifton Mill is included with $15 admission (ages 4+), 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?

Babies and young toddlers get in free at Santa at A Carillon Christmas (2 and under free); Santa at Deck the Diamond (2 and under free); Santa's Workshop at Clifton Mill (3 and under free). To skip a long line with a toddler, look at reserved or timed visits: Santa Photos at The Mall at Fairfield Commons and Santa Photos at The Greene Town Center. 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 Visit with Santa (book ahead), Santa Photos at The Mall at Fairfield Commons and Santa Photos at The Greene Town Center. Four are evening visits (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in Dayton?

Santa Photos at The Mall at Fairfield Commons: Sensory-friendly session (Sensitive Santa): Sun Dec 6 9–10 a.m.; reduced lights and music, smaller crowds, advance registration required, no purchase required to book.

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.

Keep planning: This week in Dayton · Dayton city guide · Visiting Dayton

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