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

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

We found 10 Santa outings for little kids in and around Nashville with 2026 dates: 1 breakfast or brunch, 8 photo spots and visits and 1 Santa train. One is free. The first visits start Nov 6. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

10 outings1 breakfast8 photo spots1 Santa trainFirst visits Nov 61 free

Last checked · How we choose

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 5

A quick photo

6 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Jan 3

After-dark Santa

2 evening spots · Nov 27 – Dec 20

Santa trains

1 train ride · Nov 28 – Dec 19

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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28Santa Express
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5Breakfast with Santa at The…Santa ExpressShop Local Holiday Market…
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12Santa ExpressCookies & Cocoa with Santa…
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Inside a listing’s datesBreakfastPhotos and visitsAfter darkSanta train

Breakfast with Santa

1 breakfast · Dec 5

Breakfast with Santa at The Gathering Place

The Gathering Place by Bit O Heaven · 450 West Main Street, Gallatin, TN 37066

Breakfast
When
Sat Dec 5, 2026 · Seatings at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Price
Adult $26.68; youth 6–14 $16.21; child 5 and under $10.98 (fees included); non-refundable after Nov 15
  • About 30 minutes northeast of Nashville
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa photos and visits

6 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Jan 3

Photos With Santa at Gaylord Opryland

Gaylord Opryland Resort, Delta Atrium · Nashville, TN

PhotosBook ahead
When
Nov 6 – Dec 24, 2026 · Reserved time slots
Price
Tree Package $44.99; Christmas Package (all digital) $59.99; Santa Package $84.99 (+ tax)
  • Keepsake photo taken by staff
  • resort is cashless
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Daytime Visits with Santa at Cheekwood

Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, Frist Learning Center (Historic Stable) · Nashville, TN

PhotosBook ahead
When
Dec 12–24, 2026 · Tue–Fri 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
Price
Included with Gardens Only or Gardens & Mansion admission; timed entry on arrival
  • Dec 13 and 22 are dog-visit days (Santa outdoors with dogs present)
  • pick another day if your child is nervous around dogs
  • Bring a letter for Santa's mailbox
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Shop Local Holiday Market with Santa

Nashville Farmers' Market · 900 Rosa L Parks Boulevard, Nashville, TN 37208

PhotosFree
When
Sat Dec 5, 2026 · 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Price
Free (free Santa photos, free parking)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Dancing Lights of Christmas

Wilson County Fairgrounds / Ward Ag Center · 1033 Sparta Pike, Lebanon, TN

Photos
When
Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 (Santa's Village) · Nightly
Price
Included with $35 per vehicle
  • Admission includes Santa's Village, visiting Santa and petting zoo
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at The Mall at Green Hills

The Mall at Green Hills · 2126 Abbott Martin Road, Nashville, TN 37215

PhotosWalk-upSensory-friendly
When
Nov 7–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; closed Thanksgiving) · Most days 11 a.m.–7 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 2 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 30)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa Photos at Opry Mills

Opry Mills · 433 Opry Mills Drive, Nashville, TN 37214

PhotosWalk-upSensory-friendly
When
Nov 6–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 (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 (Dec 13)
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

2 evening spots · Nov 27 – Dec 20

Santa at Glow Wild

Nashville Zoo at Grassmere · Nashville, TN

After dark
When
Nightly from Nov 27, 2026 · 5–9 p.m.
Price
Included with Glow Wild ticket
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem

Cookies & Cocoa with Santa at Lucky Ladd Farms

Lucky Ladd Farms · 4306 Rocky Glade Rd, Eagleville, TN 37060

After darkBring your camera
When
Dec 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20, 2026 · Fri 4pm; Sat and Sun 2:30 and 4pm, plus 1pm on Dec 19 and 20
Price
$20 ages 2+; $10 under 2 if meeting Santa; combo with Festival of Lights $36
Ages
All ages
Strollers
Not stated
  • Cookie decorating, cocoa or milk, reindeer food, and a visit with Santa and Mrs
  • Claus with your own camera
  • Every child gets an ornament
  • Tickets go on sale in October
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 19 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa trains and the Polar Express

1 train ride · Nov 28 – Dec 19

Santa Express

Tennessee Central Railway Museum · Nashville, TN

Santa train
When
Sat Nov 28; Sat Dec 5, 12 & 19, 2026 · 1.5-hour round trip, no layover (departure times at checkout)
Price
See ticket page
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 18 on the official page

Report a problem
On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Shop Local Holiday Market with Santa
Free (free Santa photos, free parking)2Daytime Visits with Santa at Cheekwood
Included with Gardens Only or Gardens & Mansion admission; timed entry on arrival3Santa at Dancing Lights of Christmas
Included with $35 per vehicle
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 Nashville with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in Nashville →
Good questions

Santa in Nashville: questions parents ask

Where can we see Santa for free in Nashville?

One of this year’s Santa listings is free: Shop Local Holiday Market with Santa. A few others come with admission you may already have. Bring your own camera where the listing says so.

What’s the cheapest breakfast with Santa in Nashville?

Of the breakfasts and brunches with posted 2026 prices, the lowest is Breakfast with Santa at The Gathering Place (Adult $26.68; youth 6–14 $16.21; child 5 and under $10.98 (fees included); non-refundable after Nov 15). Prices are from each venue’s own page.

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: Photos With Santa at Gaylord Opryland, Santa Photos at The Mall at Green Hills and Santa Photos at Opry Mills. 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 The Gathering Place, Daytime Visits with Santa at Cheekwood and Shop Local Holiday Market with Santa. 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 Nashville?

Santa Photos at The Mall at Green Hills: 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 Opry Mills: 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.

Is there a Polar Express or Santa train near Nashville?

Yes. Santa Express runs in 2026. Check each card for departure times and pick one that fits nap.

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 Nashville · Nashville city guide · Visiting Nashville

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