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!
NOTE: WE ARE CURRENTLY UPDATING THIS WEBSITE FOR 2024. UPDATED DATES INCLUDE 2024
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
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
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
Morningside Ho Ho Holiday Party
The Ho Ho Holiday Party is another city of Clearwater event with photos with Santa. Also includes activities and hayrides.
Countryside Reindeer’s Lane
This community party put on by the city of Clearwater also includes Santa meetings.
Dunedin Breakfast with Santa
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!
Winter Wonderland at R.E Olds Park
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
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
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
North Straub Park
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
The movie showings also include photo ops with Santa, festive games & activities and concessions before the movies
S’mores with Santa
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
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
This event is a whole Christmas village that includes photos with Santa.
St. Pete Libraries
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Belleair has Santa visit residents under 12 to deliver a gift you provide. Belleair residents only
Letters from Santa
OLDSMAR
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:
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:
