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

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

We found 6 Santa outings for little kids in and around Knoxville with 2026 dates: 1 breakfast or brunch and 5 photo spots and visits. Two are free. The first visits start Nov 7. Two more ran last season but haven’t posted 2026 dates yet. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

6 outings1 breakfast5 photo spotsFirst visits Nov 72 free

Last checked · How we choose

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 12

A quick photo

4 daytime spots · Nov 7 – Dec 24

After-dark Santa

1 evening spot · Nov 20

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.

Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Nov 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20Christmas at Chilhowee…
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28Santa at Enchanted Farms…
29
30
Dec 1
2
3
4
5Santa at Enchanted Farms…
6
7
8
9
10
11
12Santa Brunch (free…Santa at Enchanted Farms…
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Inside a listing’s datesBreakfastPhotos and visitsAfter dark

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 12

Santa Brunch (free breakfast & photos)

Christ United Methodist Church · 7535 Maynardville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938

BreakfastFree
When
Sat Dec 12, 2026 · 10 a.m.–noon
Price
Free
  • Free breakfast cooked by the United Methodist Men, free photos with Santa and Mrs
  • Claus
  • open to the public
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa photos and visits

4 daytime spots · Nov 7 – Dec 24

Santa at the Sunsphere

Sunsphere (3rd-floor Welcome Center), World's Fair Park · World's Fair Park, Knoxville, TN

Photos
When
Dec 4–6, 2026 · Call 865-314-0660
Price
Package A $60 (all digital photos, up to 3 children); Package B $75 (adds a wrapped gift from Santa)
  • Packages bought in person at the Sunsphere Welcome Center
  • each package covers up to 3 children
  • Candy cane, sticker and cookies included
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at West Town Mall

West Town Mall · 7600 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919

PhotosWalk-upSensory-friendly
When
Nov 7–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; 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 (Caring Santa): Sun Dec 6 9–10:30 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 1 evening (Nov 15)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at Foothills Mall

Foothills Mall · 197 Foothills Mall, Maryville, TN 37801

PhotosWalk-upSensory-friendly
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
See photo packages on the booking page
Sensory
Sensory-friendly session (Santa Cares): Sun Dec 6 10:30–11:30 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 2 evenings (Nov 30, Dec 7)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Enchanted Farms Christmas Trees

Enchanted Farms Christmas Trees · 809 E Copeland Dr, Powell, TN

Photos
When
Sat Nov 28, Dec 5 and Dec 12 · Noon–4pm
Price
No Santa fee listed; trees priced by size
Ages
All ages
Strollers
Tree fields are grass and dirt
  • A choose-and-cut farm with more than 3,000 trees, opening Sat Nov 21
  • Hot chocolate and coffee are on the house
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

1 evening spot · Nov 20

Christmas at Chilhowee (free Santa photos)

Chilhowee Park Bandstand · Enter at 401 Lakeside Street, Knoxville, TN

After darkFree
When
Fri Nov 20, 2026 · 6–9 p.m. (tree lit at 6)
Price
Free; free parking
  • City of Knoxville event: tree lighting, crafts, free Santa photos, hot cocoa and a holiday Touch-A-Truck
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
Dates not posted yet
  • Christmas Lantern Express · Three Rivers Rambler depot Dates not posted yet — check the official page (threeriversrambler.com).
  • Santa's Workshop at Muse Knoxville · Muse Knoxville Dates not posted yet — check the official page (themuseknoxville.org).

These ran last season. We’ll add them when 2026 dates go up.

On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Santa Brunch (free breakfast & photos)
Free2Christmas at Chilhowee (free Santa photos)
Free; free parking3Santa at the Sunsphere
Package A $60 (all digital photos, up to 3 children); Package B $75 (adds a wrapped gift from Santa)
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 5 light displays in and around Knoxville with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in Knoxville →
Good questions

Santa in Knoxville: questions parents ask

Where can we see Santa for free in Knoxville?

Two of this year’s Santa listings are free: Santa Brunch (free breakfast & photos) and Christmas at Chilhowee (free Santa photos). Bring your own camera where the listing says so.

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 West Town Mall and Santa Photos at Foothills Mall. 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 Santa Brunch (free breakfast & photos), Santa Photos at West Town Mall and Santa Photos at Foothills Mall. One is an evening visit (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in Knoxville?

Santa Photos at West Town Mall: Sensory-friendly session (Caring Santa): Sun Dec 6 9–10:30 a.m.; reduced lights and music, smaller crowds, advance registration required, no purchase required to book. Santa Photos at Foothills Mall: Sensory-friendly session (Santa Cares): Sun Dec 6 10:30–11:30 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 Knoxville · Knoxville city guide · Visiting Knoxville

Get the weekend plan, holiday dates included.

One short email every Friday morning with what works for ages 0–6 in Knoxville that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.