Santa 2026 · Denver

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

We found 12 Santa outings for little kids in and around Denver with 2026 dates: 3 breakfasts and brunches and 9 photo spots and visits. Nine are free. The first visits start Nov 6. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

12 outings3 breakfasts9 photo spotsFirst visits Nov 69 free

Last checked · How we choose

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

Breakfast with Santa

3 breakfasts · Nov 7 – Dec 12

A quick photo

2 daytime spots · Dec 5 – Dec 12

After-dark Santa

7 evening spots · Nov 6 – Dec 24

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.

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Nov 1
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7Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast…
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14Winterfest and Santa's…Tree Lighting and Santa's…
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20Santa's Grand Arrival at…
21Castle Rock Starlighting
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Dec 1
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5Pancakes with Santa at…Holiday Celebration with…
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8Aurora Holiday Tree…
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11Sensory-Friendly Santa…
12Thornton WinterFest…Golden Holiday Parade with…
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Inside a listing’s datesBreakfastPhotos and visitsAfter dark

Breakfast with Santa

3 breakfasts · Nov 7 – Dec 12

Santa photos and visits

2 daytime spots · Dec 5 – Dec 12

Golden Holiday Parade with Santa

Washington Ave., downtown Golden · Washington Ave., Golden, CO 80401

PhotosFree
When
Sat, Dec 12, 2026 · 10:30am parade; free carriage rides 12–2pm
Price
Free
  • Santa rides in the parade on Washington Avenue between 10th and 13th streets
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

7 evening spots · Nov 6 – Dec 24

Santa Photos at FlatIron Crossing

FlatIron Crossing, base of the Grand Staircase · 1 W. FlatIron Crossing Dr., Broomfield, CO 80021

After darkBook ahead
When
Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026 · Varies by week (Nov 6–22: weekdays 2–7pm, Sat 11am–7pm, Sun 11am–6pm)
Price
Visits free; photo packages for sale
  • Closed Thanksgiving
  • Book ahead to skip the wait
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem

Castle Rock Starlighting

Downtown Castle Rock · Downtown Castle Rock, Castle Rock, CO 80104

After darkFree
When
Sat, Nov 21, 2026 · 2–6pm
Price
Free
  • Caroling, Santa and kids' activities downtown, then the star on Castle Rock is lit and fireworks follow
  • A chili supper runs at the Firehouse
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem

Aurora Holiday Tree Lighting with Santa

Aurora Municipal Center · 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy., Aurora, CO 80012

After darkFree
When
Tue, Dec 8, 2026 · 5–7pm
Price
Free
  • Santa and the Aurora Dance Hearts join the city tree lighting
  • The Merry Makers Market runs 4–8pm inside the Central Library next door
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast at FlatIron Crossing
Free breakfast2Sensory-Friendly Santa Visits in Thornton
Free; reservation required (opens Nov 16)3Winterfest and Santa's Arrival at Orchard Town Center
Free
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 10 light displays in and around Denver with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in Denver →
Good questions

Santa in Denver: questions parents ask

Where can we see Santa for free in Denver?

Nine of this year’s Santa listings are free: Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast at FlatIron Crossing, Sensory-Friendly Santa Visits in Thornton, Winterfest and Santa's Arrival at Orchard Town Center, Tree Lighting and Santa's Arrival at Outlets at Castle Rock and Santa's Grand Arrival at Town Center at Aurora and 4 more. Bring your own camera where the listing says so.

What’s the cheapest breakfast with Santa in Denver?

Of the breakfasts and brunches with posted 2026 prices, the lowest are Thornton WinterFest Breakfast with Santa ($4 ages 0–12, $6 ages 13–61); Pancakes with Santa at Hudson Gardens (Kids 12 and under $15 resident/$20 non-resident; adults $20/$25; 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 Pancakes with Santa at Hudson Gardens (2 and under 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?

Five listings start in the morning, including Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast at FlatIron Crossing, Pancakes with Santa at Hudson Gardens and Thornton WinterFest Breakfast with Santa. 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 26, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

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

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One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Denver 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. Every year in Denver

Santa Photos at FlatIron CrossingNext: Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026Santa’s Arrival & Breakfast at FlatIron CrossingNext: Nov 7, 2026Pancakes with Santa at Hudson GardensNext: Dec 5, 2026Sensory-Friendly Santa Visits in ThorntonNext: Dec 11, 2026Thornton WinterFest Breakfast with SantaNext: Dec 12, 2026

By month

More dates for little kids in Denver

Things to do with kids in Denver in November · Things to do with kids in Denver in December