Where to Meet Santa in Pinellas (2024 Update)

Your guide to photos with Santa in St.Pete-Clearwater

Looking for Santa this holiday season? Check out all these places that you can take pictures with Santa in Pinellas, all updated for 2024.

We are two local moms and put together this list to help other families in the area save time planning their Christmas fun. Having searched things to do around Pinellas for our own kids and frustratingly always finding lists for the huge greater Tampa Bay area, we decided to make our own resources.

This list focuses specifically on Santas near the Clearwater-St. Pete area & Pinellas County. You’ll find a few Tampa area listings, but only ones we’d go to ourselves (no sifting through Polk County stuff on this list!).

Below you’ll find local community events where you can visit with Santa, malls and stores with Santa, personal Santa visits and even Santas on fire trucks!

We also make sure to highlight events with sensory sensitive Santas and signing Santas in their own sections, and budget & free Santa photos.

Let’s find Santa!

Looking for more Christmas fun?
Ultimate List of Christmas Events in Clearwater-St.Pete
Can’t Miss Christmas Lights in Pinellas

Local Photos with Santa in Pinellas

Santa on a Christmas parade float
Santa on a float at the Safety Harbor holiday parade

First up, here are local St.Pete-Clearwater community events where you can get photos with Santa.

We want to highlight these events first because they are the most budget-friendly (many are free!) and are put on by cities and organizations as community building. Some also serve as fundraisers for local non-profits.

Festival of Trees

  • LOCATION: The Long Center
  • DATES: Nov 23-24, 2024
  • COST: $10 per person
  • Website

Festival of Trees is a decorated Christmas tree and wreath sale for charity. You can explore the Christmas tree forest and visit with Santa.

Ice Skating with Santa

  • LOCATION: Countryside Mall
  • DATE: Dec 1, 2024
  • COST: $20 per child (includes an adult)
  • Website

Morningside Ho Ho Holiday Party

  • LOCATION: Morningside Rec Complex, 2400 Harn Blvd., Clearwater, 33764
  • DATE: Dec 6, 2024
  • Facebook

The Ho Ho Holiday Party is another city of Clearwater event with photos with Santa. Also includes activities and hayrides.

Countryside Reindeer’s Lane

  • LOCATION: Countryside Rec Center, 2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater, 33761
  • DATE: Dec 7, 2024
  • Website

This community party put on by the city of Clearwater also includes Santa meetings.

Dunedin Breakfast with Santa

  • LOCATION: Dunedin Community Center
  • DATE: Dec 7, 2024
  • COST: $8/person before Nov 29th, $12/person after
  • Website

This event includes breakfast with Santa, along with crafts and entertainment. There’s an early bird discount if you buy your tickets early.

Pancake Breakfast with Santa – Free!

  • LOCATION: Oakhurst United Methodist Church
  • DATE: Dec 7, 2024
  • Facebook

Winter Wonderland at R.E Olds Park

  • DATE: Dec 13, 2024
  • COST: Free
  • Website

Santa will be at this event, plus a snow slide and bounce houses.

Dec 13: Seminole WinterFest & Tree Lighting

Meet Santa in addition to holiday activities, crafts and entertainment.

Dunedin Old Fashioned Christmas

  • LOCATION: Downtown Dunedin
  • DATE: Dec 14, 2024
  • Free, donations accepted for Dunedin Youth Scholarship
  • Website

This is Dunedin’s big Christmas event that takes place after their Christmas parade. Visits with Santa are one of the activities at the event.

North Greenwood Holiday Social

  • LOCATION: North Greenwood Rec Complex, 900 N. MLK Jr. Ave., Clearwater
  • DATE: Dec 21, 2024
  • COST: Free
  • Website

In addition to getting a photo with Santa, this Clearwater city event also has a cookie decoration station and hot chocolate

Photos with Santa at Fenway Hotel

  • LOCATION: Fenway Hotel
  • DATE: Dec 22, 2024
  • Facebook

North Straub Park

  • DATES: Dec 14-23, 2024, 6-9pm
  • COST: Free!
  • Website

You can have your own camera at this Santa meet and greet, making it a great budget option.

St. Pete Movies in the Park with Santa photo ops

  • Dec. 7, 2024: Nightmare Before Christmas – Huggins-Stengal Field
  • Dec 14, 2024 The Grinch – Vinoy Park
  • Dec 21, 2024: Elf – Pinellas Pioneer Settlement
  • Website

The movie showings also include photo ops with Santa, festive games & activities and concessions before the movies

S’mores with Santa

  • LOCATION: Pioneer Settlement at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
  • DATE: Dec 13-14, 2024
  • Website

Make s’mores around a camp fire with Santa.

Heritage Village Santa Saturdays

Santa Saturdays includes Santa meeting into front of the McMullen Log Cabin and also holiday activities for the family.

Polar Express Experience at The Sound

  • Location: Coachman Park
  • Date: Dec 13, 2024
  • COST: Free
  • Website

This event looks awesome and includes Santa meet & greet with photos. Plus, there’s a holiday sing-a-long, snow, games, activities, crafts and a showing of Polar Express.

Winter Wonderland Clearwater

  • LOCATION: 201 N Fort Harrison Ave, Clearwater, FL, 33755
  • DATES: select days from Dec 1-23, 2024
  • COST: Free but they ask for a donation of an unwrapped toy or non-perishable food
  • Website

This event is a whole Christmas village that includes photos with Santa.

St. Pete Libraries

  • North Community Library: Dec 17, 2024
  • South Community Library: Dec 18, 2024
  • Johnson Community Library: Dec 19, 2024
  • West Community Library: Dec 16, 2024

These are free events where Santa stops by some of the St. Pete library branches. You can take pictures with Santa and kids attending will also be given a free book.

Tree Brothers Christmas Trees

  • 2024 dates not yet announced

Tree Brothers has a professional photographer on site and you get a free 5×7 photo at this event.

Clearwater Santa Trolley Tours

  • NOTE: 2024 Dates have not yet been announced

Santa tours around Clearwater on a Trolley Tour and you can meet him at a few of Clearwater’s recreation centers at the times listed above. There are also holiday activities for kids.

YMCA Santa Events & Breakfasts

Toddler being handed a candy cane from Santa
Santa at a YMCA breakfast with Santa Event

A number of the local YMCA clubs host Santa events and breakfasts with Santa in December, some of which are open to the community. We will add to this list as more YMCA Santa events are announced.

  • 2024 dates have not yet been announced

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Malls & Stores with Santa

Perhaps the first Santa that comes to people’s mind is the quintessential mall Santa. Here are the malls and stores near the Clearwater area hosting Santa.

Note: Mall Santa photos are definitely pricier than the community options listed above.

  • Countryside Mall, Nov 15-Dec 24, 2024 (website). Reservations recommended
  • Tyrone Mall, opening Nov 22-Dec 24, 2024 (website)
  • International Plaza, Nov 7-Dec 24, 2024 (website)
  • Citrus Park Mall, Nov 23-Dec 24, 2024 (website)
  • Bass Pro Shop – Tampa, now until Dec 24, 2024 (website)
  • JcPenny’s Portrait Studios (website)
  • Tyrone Square – 11/30/2024
  • Countryside Mall – 12/1/2024
  • Citrus Park – 12/11/2024

Christmas Festivals with Santa Photos

The following Christmas festivals and events have Santa meet and greet opportunities. They take place on select dates through December.

  • ZooTampa Christmas in the Wild
  • YuleTides at Florida Aquarium (select dates between Nov 29-Dec 24, 2024, website)
  • Raprager Christmas Festival, Fri-Sun Nov 29-Dec 22, 2024 (website)
  • Busch Gardens Christmas Town
  • DK Farms

Read more about all the Christmas events happening around Pinellas!

Meals & Desserts with Santa

Looking for more thank just a quick photo with Santa? Here are some breakfasts with Santa, cookies with Santa and dinner with Santa events happening around Pinellas.

  • PJs and Pizza with Santa in Largo – Dec 7, 2024, children 7 and under only, prior registration required (website)
  • Breakfast with Santa at State Street Center in Oldsmar – Dec 14, 2024 $10-15 (website)
  • LBC Brewing Lunch with Santa and Mrs. Claus – Dec 14, 2024, $11-16 includes lunch buffet (Facebook)
  • Clearwater Marine Aquarium Santa Breakfast – Dec 21, 2024, $65 (website)
  • Seminole Rec Dept Breakfast with Santa – Dec 21, 2024, $7, prior registration required (Facebook)
  • YMCA Breakfasts with Santa – 2024 dates not yet announced

Sensory-Sensitive Santas Near Pinellas

These Santa meet and greets are designed for kids with sensory, developmental or physical needs. These meetings are supposed to be less overstimulating, calmer and with few people to give time and space for varying needs.

  • Dec 1, 2024 – We Rock the Spectrum (instagram, $30 per child and includes gym playtime)
  • Dec 8, 2024 – International Plaza (website)
  • Dec 8, 2024 – Tyrone Square Mall (website, registration required)
  • Dec 11, 2024 – Sensory-Sensitive Santa Meet & Greet at Ulmer Park, 6-7:30pm (website)

Signing Santas Near Pinellas

These signing Santa meet and greets are for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. They may also include other signing interpreters as well.

  • Dec 1, 2024 – International Plaza (website)
  • Dec 11, 2024 – Sensory & Signing Santa at Ulmer Park, 6-7:30pm (website)
  • Dec 12, 2024 – Signing Santa at Ulmer Park, 6-7:30pm (website)

Santa Calls, Letters & Personal Visits

If your child doesn’t want to sit on Santa’s lap, you can also get into the holiday spirit with calls from Santa. A few Pinellas Parks and Rec departments organize Santa calls to kids.

Note that pre-registration is required to get a call from Santa so do that early.

Calls from Santa

Local recreation centers organize volunteers to call kids as Santa, Mrs. Claus elves during set times. Find more information for each Santa Calling here:

Personal Santa Visits

A few towns in the area do personal Santa visits where Santa will come to your house on a designated night to deliver a present (that you provide).

OLDSMAR

  • DATES: Dec 10-14, 2024 (must register for lotto between Nov 1-15)
  • Website

Oldsmar residents can enter a lotto to have Santa personally visit your house. If selected, you drop off a gift for Santa to deliver your child.

BELLEAIR

  • DATES: Dec 11-13, 2024
  • Sign up opens Nov 19, 2024

Belleair has Santa visit residents under 12 to deliver a gift you provide. Belleair residents only

Letters from Santa

OLDSMAR

  • Location: Oldsmar City Hall
  • Dates: Nov 18 – Dec 15, 2024

There is a special Santa mailbox in front of Oldsmar City Hall. If you send a letter to Santa, you’ll receive on back from him. Make sure to include a name and return address in the letter.

Fire Truck Santa Tours

Local fire departments drive Santa around on top of a decorated truck to wave at kids. I loved this so much as a kid and am so glad it is still a local tradition.

The following cities have announced their fire truck tours:

  • Palm Harbor: Dec 2-5; Dec 7 & 9; Dec 11-14; Dec 16, 2024
  • Safety Harbor: Dec 13-14, 20-21, 2024 (Santa Tracker Website)
  • Tarpon Springs: Dec 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 2024 (Facebook post with route maps, last year they had a tracker too that hasn’t posted yet)
  • Dunedin: 2024 dates not announced yet

Dog & Pet Photos with Santa

There are many dog and pet photos with Santa in the area too! We have a whole list of nearby pet-friendly Santa photos with “Santa Paws” for you.

Check out our list of dog and pet photos with Santa near Pinellas

Read More:

Looking for more Pinellas holiday fun? Don’t miss our other holiday guides:

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