# Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in Raleigh, 2026

> We found 6 Santa outings for little kids in and around Raleigh with 2026 dates: 1 breakfast or brunch, 4 photo spots and visits and 1 Santa train. None are free on their own, though some come with admission you may already have, and one is already sold out. The first visits start Nov 6. Three more ran last season but haven’t posted 2026 dates yet. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

- Last checked: 2026-10-19
- 6 listings with 2026 dates; 3 without posted dates
- Canonical page: https://littlesweekly.com/raleigh/santa/
- Christmas lights (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/raleigh/christmas-lights/index.md
- This week (Markdown): https://littlesweekly.com/raleigh/index.md
- City index for agents: https://littlesweekly.com/raleigh/llms.txt

## Breakfast and brunch with Santa

- **Breakfast with Santa (Town of Apex)** at Apex Senior Center, 63 Hunter St, Apex, NC 27502. When: Sat Dec 12, 2026. Time: 9–11 a.m. Price: Registration required (fee shown at registration). Ages: Registration ages 2+. Official page: https://www.activekids.com/apex-nc/breakfast-with-santa-registration-required-2026

## Santa photos and visits

- **Photos with Santa at Crabtree** at Crabtree Valley Mall, Center Court (lower level), 4325 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27612. When: Nov 6–Dec 24, 2026 (closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 a.m.–6 p.m.; hours change by day, full schedule on the booking page. Price: Visit free; photo packages extra. Official page: https://www.shopcrabtree.com/SantaPhotos
- **Santa at Fantasy Lake Christmas Village** at Fantasy Lake Adventure Park, Wake Forest, NC. When: Thursdays–Sundays through Dec 24, 2026 (season opens Nov 6). Time: Village 5:30–9 p.m. Price: Included with drive-thru vehicle ticket. Official page: https://www.gofantasylake.com/christmaslights
- **Santa Photos at The Streets at Southpoint** at The Streets at Southpoint, 6910 Fayetteville Road, Durham, NC 27713. When: Nov 13–Dec 24, 2026 (not every day in the first weeks; closed Thanksgiving). Time: Most days 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Dec 24 9 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 9:30–10:30 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 8 evenings (Nov 23, Nov 24, Nov 30, Dec 1, Dec 7, Dec 8…). Official page: https://whereissanta.com/mall/1524
- **Holiday at the Farm at 1870 Farm** at 1870 Farm (Chapel Hill), 1224 Old Lystra Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27517. When: Dec 5–6, 12–13, 19–20 and 22–24, 2026. Time: See the farm's site for times. Price: Ticketed; prices on the farm's site. Ages: All ages. Strollers: Not stated. Every child meets Santa and gets a toy. There are festive animals, "reindeer" donkeys, an elf workshop, a peppermint forest and s'mores. Breakfast with Santa is booked separately. Official page: https://www.1870farm.com/holiday

## Santa trains and the Polar Express

- **Santa's Toy Shop at Holiday Express** at Pullen Park, Raleigh, NC. When: Dec 1–17, 2026. Time: 5–9:30 p.m. Price: $21 + tax and fees per guest age 1+. Sensory: Sensory-friendly sessions Sundays Dec 6 & 13, 1–4 p.m. (lower music, reduced capacity, quiet area, sensory bags). SOLD OUT. Train ride, carousel and a walk through Santa’s caboose. There are no sit-down Santa photos, so plan on a quick selfie at most. Official page: https://raleighnc.gov/parks-and-recreation/services/holiday-express

## Dates not posted yet

- **Santa Express** (New Hope Valley Railway (NC Railway Museum)): dates not posted yet. Check the official page: https://www.triangletrain.com/santa-express
- **Brunch with Santa at The Mayton (Peck & Plume)** (Peck & Plume, The Mayton): dates not posted yet. Check the official page: https://www.peckandplume.com/whats-new/santa-at-the-mayton/
- **Lunch with Santa at Doherty's** (Doherty's Irish Pub (Cary, Pittsboro, Apex, Holly Springs)): dates not posted yet. Check the official page: https://www.dohertysirishpubnc.com/brunch-with-santa

## 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 Raleigh?
None of the 2026 visits we found is free on its own. Santa at Fantasy Lake Christmas Village is included with drive-thru vehicle ticket, 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?
To skip a long line with a toddler, look at reserved or timed visits: Santa Photos at The Streets at Southpoint. 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 Breakfast with Santa (Town of Apex), Photos with Santa at Crabtree and Santa Photos at The Streets at Southpoint. Two are evening visits (5 p.m. or later), which work best on a late-nap day.

### Is there a sensory-friendly Santa in Raleigh?
Santa's Toy Shop at Holiday Express: Sensory-friendly sessions Sundays Dec 6 & 13, 1–4 p.m. (lower music, reduced capacity, quiet area, sensory bags). Santa Photos at The Streets at Southpoint: Sensory-friendly session (Santa Cares): Sun Dec 6 9:30–10:30 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 Raleigh?
Yes. Santa's Toy Shop at Holiday 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](https://littlesweekly.com/how-we-choose/).