[twitter]We did the annual run out to see Santa at the mall this weekend. It’s been awesome, and it’s been an adventure in year’s past. Check out my Santa Fail pics, but this year was wonderful.
When we checked in at the front of the line just after 11a on a Sunday, there was already a nearly 2 hour wait to see the big guy. Seriously.
Chinook Centre has a wonderful way to get you out of that line though, they’ll send you a text when it’s time to come see Santa. So I checked in, handed them my phone number, and then we went wandering to get some shopping done, have some lunch, and then the text rang telling us to come back to Santa’s sleigh in Chinook Centre.
Then it was just a small line of a dozen or so people. The boys tossed around on pillows coloring pictures for Santa (which they mailed right there), watched some movies, and played with blocks. It was a very easy way to chill out while waiting for Santa.
When it was our turn, the boys weren’t cranky or grumpy or tired, they just plowed right onto his lap for a chat.
Bonus about the Chinook Centre Santa setup: they have a huge screen in front of the sleigh, so the kids can watch a video of the reindeer pulling in front of the sleigh. It’s totally captivating for the young ones and makes for wonderful pictures. The boys bounced down, candy canes in hand, magic of the season retained. The Chinook Centre Santa is our favorite place to get pictures with Santa in Calgary, here are some other malls with the times they have Santa visits in the city.
Here’s a list of all the Malls in and around Calgary and the times when you can get Pictures with Santa in Calgary
Chinook Mall Pictures With Santa
Nov 28 – Dec 23: M–Sa 10a – 1p, 2p – 5p, 6p – 830p, Su 11a – 2p, 3p -6p
Dec 24: 10a – 130p, 2p – 3p
CrossIron Mills Pictures With Santa
Nov 15 – Dec 6: M-F 3p – 8p, Sat 10a -8p, Sun Noon-5p
Dec 7 – 23: M-F 10a – 8p, Sat 10a -8p, Sun 10a – 5p
Dec 24: 10a – 5p.
Bass Pro Shops Pictures With Santa
I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Bass Pro Shops Santa visits. They offer free 4×6 photos, and if the photo line exceeds 30 minutes, they’ll give you a Bass Pass to come back for a scheduled time so you can shop instead of keeping the kids still in line.
November 15 – December 24
Deerfoot Mall Pictures With Santa
Nov 21 – Dec 13: M-F 11a – 2p, 3p -7p , Sat 10a – 2p, 3p – 6p, Sun Noon – 4p
Dec 14 and 21: 11a -2p, 3p -5p
Dec 24: 10a – 3p
Market Mall Pictures With Santa
Dec 1 – Dec 23: M–Sa 930a – 1230p, 130p – 430p, 530p – 8p Sun 10a – 1p, 2p – 5p
Dec 24: 930a – 1230p, 1p – 3p
Northland Village Mall Pictures With Santa
Nov 29 – Dec 23: 11a – 1p, 2p – 4p
Dec 24: 10a – 1p
Sunridge Mall Pictures With Santa
Dec 1 – 23: M–Sa 11am – 8pm, Sun Noon – 5p
Dec 24: Noon – 5pm
Southcentre Mall Pictures With Santa
Dec 1-14: M-Sa 930a – 9p, Sun 10a – 6p
Dec 15-21: M-Sa 930a – 10p, Sun 10a – 7p
Dec 22-23: 930a – 10p
Dec 24: 9a -4p