Santa 2026 · San Diego

Breakfast with Santa and Santa photos in San Diego, with prices.

We found 6 Santa outings for little kids in and around San Diego 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 6. Each listing has the time, price and a link to book.

6 outings6 photo spotsFirst visits Nov 6

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

Start here

What kind of Santa visit?

A quick photo

5 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Jan 3

After-dark Santa

1 evening spot · Dec 6

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
6Santa at Fashion Valley
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27Santa at Otay Ranch Town…Santa at Mission Valley
28
29
30
Dec 1
2
3
4
5
6Del Mar Holiday Tree Lighting
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
Inside a listing’s datesPhotos and visitsAfter dark

Santa photos and visits

5 daytime spots · Nov 6 – Jan 3

Santa at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration

SeaWorld San Diego, Santa’s Cottage on SkyTower Lawn · 500 Sea World Drive, San Diego, CA 92109

Photos
When
Daily, Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027 · During Christmas Celebration hours
Price
Included with park admission
  • SeaWorld’s holiday season also has real reindeer, Rudolph and nightly snowfall
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem

LEGO Santa at Christmas Bricktacular

LEGOLAND California · One Legoland Drive, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Photos
When
Nov 21–29; Dec 5–6, 12–13 and 19–31, 2026; Jan 1–3, 2027 · During park hours
Price
Included with park tickets
  • LEGO Santa comes with his sleigh and reindeer
  • Fireworks on Dec 5, Dec 12 and every night Dec 19–31
  • About 35 min drive from San Diego
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Otay Ranch Town Center

Otay Ranch Town Center · 2015 Birch Road, Chula Vista, CA 91915

PhotosWalk-up
When
From Nov 27, 2026 · During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
Price
Photo packages priced at the booking site
  • Reserving a time online skips most of the line
  • Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 30 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Fashion Valley

Fashion Valley · 7007 Friars Rd, San Diego, CA 92108

PhotosWalk-up
When
From Nov 6, 2026 · During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
Price
Photo packages priced at the booking site
  • Reserving a time online skips most of the line
  • Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 30 on the official page

Report a problem

Santa at Mission Valley

Mission Valley · 1640 Camino Del Rio N #351, San Diego, CA 92108

PhotosWalk-up
When
From Nov 27, 2026 · During mall hours; reserve a photo time online or walk up
Price
Photo packages priced at the booking site
  • Reserving a time online skips most of the line
  • Walk-ups are welcome when slots are open
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 30 on the official page

Report a problem

After-dark Santa

1 evening spot · Dec 6

Del Mar Holiday Tree Lighting

Jim Watkins Amphitheater at L'Auberge Del Mar · 1540 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar, CA 92014

After dark
When
Dec 6, 2026 · 5pm
Price
See the Del Mar Village site
  • Hot chocolate, Santa and the Grinch at the village tree lighting
  • North Pole by the Sea family activities run 1–5pm that day
Book / details ↗

Checked Oct 26 on the official page

Report a problem
On a budget

Ways to keep Santa cheap

1Santa at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration
Included with park admission2LEGO Santa at Christmas Bricktacular
Included with park tickets
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 6 light displays in and around San Diego with 2026 dates, sorted for little kids, with early start times.

Christmas lights in San Diego →
Good questions

Santa in San Diego: questions parents ask

Is there a free Santa visit in San Diego?

None of the 2026 visits we found is free on its own. Santa at SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration is included with park admission; LEGO Santa at Christmas Bricktacular is included with park tickets, so it costs nothing extra if you’re going anyway. We add free visits as soon as their dates are posted.

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 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.

Keep planning: This week in San Diego · San Diego city guide · Visiting San Diego

Get the weekend plan, holiday dates included.

One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in San Diego 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 San Diego

Santa at SeaWorld’s Christmas CelebrationNext: Nov 13, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027LEGO Santa at Christmas BricktacularNext: Nov 21, 2026 – Jan 3, 2027

By month

More dates for little kids in San Diego

Things to do with kids in San Diego in November · Things to do with kids in San Diego in December