FREE Santa Pictures Near Me (Puget Sound area & Nationally)!
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FREE Santa Pictures Near Me (Puget Sound area & Nationally)!
Updated for 2024
Santa photos are a tradition for many families but they can be so pricey. So if you are wondering “Are there free Santa pictures near me?”, the answer is YES! The great news is that there are some quality free Santa Photo options, and they often include other Christmas festivities too. I have compiled a list of Free Santa Photos I am aware of in the Puget Sound region. Please comment below with any additional ones you find. Some of the free photos are already going on!
My favorite thing about many of these free opportunities is that many offer experiences – rather than just a quick photo (ie: there are free beverages and treats too)! We have done a few of these personally (like the photo above) and it has become a new family tradition for us!
If you are also looking for festivals and events to enjoy this year, we have a big round-up of Pacific Northwest Christmas Events here to check out as well.
Free Santa Photos Nationally:
We recommend you call ahead to confirm dates etc. as things are often changing, depending on current mandates – so all of these dates are subject to change if those do.
Bass Pro – National – now through December 24th. – Open for reservations now. Check their website for times. You will need to sign up to get a Bass Pass with the time you want to go (visit the ticket booth in-store for your Bass Pass). Time slots are available at various times throughout the week. Get a free 4×6 studio quality photos with Santa (he was sitting behind plexiglass last year – but not sure what the protocol for this year will be yet). Be sure to check their schedule for specific times.
Cabela’s – Lacey & Marysville in NW, now through December 24th. Open for reservations now. This will work the same way as Bass Pro this year for the Santa Wonderland. You will need to sign up to get a Bass Pass with the time you want to go (visit the ticket booth in-store for your Bass Pass). Time slots are available at various times throughout the week. Get free 4×6 studio-quality photos with Santa in store. Be sure to check their schedule for specific times. We did this one last year for a birthday party and they turned out great!
Free Santa pictures in the Puget Sound area:
Most of these are completely free opportunities to get your photos with Santa. A couple requests a toy donation (usually a toy or food) and we note that if that is the case. You can usually get a great donation for just a few dollars, making them great options to give and get a photo too.
Many of these are professional photos, and a couple are opportunities to take your own photos with Santa for free. We note that too when it is the case. We are so fortunate to have so many opportunities for great photos for the holidays in our area, and here are the ones that we have found happening this year!
Free Santa Photos near me (Puget Sound) –
Free Photos with Santa at the Snohomish Harvest Market – November 16th from 12 to 4 pm in Snohomish, WA.
Christmas at The Old Cannery & Free Santa Photos – November 29th and runs through December 22nd, Sumner, WA. This popular event is back this year! FREE photos with Santa on weekends from 11 am-4 pm! There are sensory Santa appointments available for select dates too. But wait, there’s more! Help spread the holiday cheer by giving back to the community – we’re accepting donations for the Sumner Food Bank. Please note that Santa will need to return to the North Pole by 4 pm, so we may need to cut the line off early to ensure all the kids get a chance to see him. Santa Land is packed with fun activities to entertain children while they wait to see Santa.
Free Professional Photos with Santa in Enumclaw – December 6th, 4 pm to 7 pm. Santa is coming to the Williams Ave. Real Estate office on Cole St! We are so excited to host Santa again this year, for 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐓𝐎𝐒 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐊𝐢𝐝𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐓𝐨𝐲 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞.
Free Santa Photos in Kirkland – December 7th from 9 am to 3 pm. Santa Claus will be there with a professional photographer and treats for everyone. All digital photos from the professional photographer are free and will be sent to you in a high-resolution format online to post and print! Dogs are welcome but we ask that they be leashed during their time here, and they also ask that you RSVP.
Free photos with Santa in Renton on Dec 7, 14th & 21st (pets welcome too) at the Renton Civic Center. You find more ideas of what to do in the area from Jens visit during a previous year here.
Evergreen Beauty College K-12 Event – (I have seen flyers for the Everett and Mt. Vernon locations, but you might want to call ahead to confirm location participation) – Join them on December 4, from 3 pm to 7 pm where kids K-12 can get free haircuts, free mini-facials and free manicures! Kids of ALL AGES can get a free selfie with Santa!
Sambica Christmas Carnival – December 7th & 14th, 5-8 pm in Bellevue – Gather on the field for festive fun for the whole family, as well as enjoy holiday desserts in our first-ever Christmas Yurt Village. This FREE event includes free photos with Santa, carnival games, a coffee cart, light displays, and more!
Photos with Santa and the Reindeer – December 7th, 2-7 pm at the Weatherly Inn (Tacoma). Meet Santa’s live Reindeer and get a photo with Santa Photos. Santa photos are complimentary!
Covington Nursery – December 8 & 14 from 10 am to 3 pm, Santa & Mrs. Claus will be there with treats available too.
Free Photos with Santa in Shoreline – December 9th, from 6 pm to 8 pm. Get free photos with Santa & Mrs. Claus! We ask that you bring 2 cans of non-expired food to donate for our Holiday Food Drive (distributed by St. Vincent de Paul, Shoreline). Bring your own camera! Hot cocoa & cookies provided!
Free Santa Photos at the Pike Place Market – December 14th from 10 am to 3 pm, Come down to Pike Place Market to get your 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚! Santa is taking a break from the North Pole to visit the Market and wants to know your holiday wishlist!
Free Photos and Fun with Santa in Kenmore – December 14, from 2 to 5 pm (reservations required). KHS and Kenmore Camera are offering free photos and fun with Santa this December 14th. Check out our flyer and schedule your photo shoot! Limited spaces are available and reservations are required to reduce wait times
Free Fun Holiday Photos at Sunrise Village – They generally offer an event, but this year’s dates have not been announced yet. We will update you when/if they are.
Free Professional Photos with Santa at Bramlee Wood – December 21st from 7 pm to 9 pm. Kent, Wa. Get free photos for individuals, families, pets, or any combination thereof and the J. Baugh Piano Studio will be hosting a free hot cocoa stand all to raise awareness about the amazing work RASKC (Regional Animal Services of King County) does for animals in need in our community. Join us for an evening of holiday music, twinkling lights, and maybe even a few snow flurries! Donations accepted to support RASKC
More Options::
Here is a free photo we got with Santa and Mrs. Claus while we stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge a couple of years ago. Get a great frame and the photos you take with your kids and Santa can be just as fun as the professional ones!
Great Wolf Lodge is still advertising visits with Santa this year, starting on November 26, and you will have the opportunity to take pictures with him that way. There is a deal with rooms starting as low as $139 on Groupon right now, if this sounds like fun.
Pacific Place – downtown Seattle – They will have a Noel Themed Floral Event this year, which makes for fun Holiday-themed selfie spots for photos this year.
Hometown Holidays – December 1st in downtown Camas (technically Wa. but near the Portland area). They will be offering Santa photo ops this year.
This Santa Sleigh is at Carpinitos in Kent and there are live reindeer for viewing behind the fence you see in the picture above. Viewing and photos with your own camera are FREE!
Free Reindeer Photo Opps & More:
In the past, these spots have offered Reindeer photo apps. Be sure to call ahead to confirm for this year before visiting.
Carpinito Bros in Kent
FREE Pet Photos with Santa at PetSmart! (They have offered these in years past, but have not confirmed if it will be happening this year or not. Will update here once we do.) Get photos with Santa & your pet.
Walmart 12/1 – 12/2. From 10-2 are doing free Santa 5×7
Thanks Cheyanne! We got Walmart added to the list – great tip!
Is 12/1 and 12/2 the only days?
Hi Wendy, I believe that is an older comment. I did not find any Walmarts doing the photos around the NW this year. Let us know if you find out differently!
Las Margaritas Mexican Restaurant in Auburn, WA will have Santa on December 20th. From 6-9 PM. Photographer will be available but BYOC is welcome. :)
Thanks Zulema, we will add that to the article.
Any ideas on where to get free Santa photos in the Portland area?
Hi Catherine – there are the national offers (Walmart, Walgreens, Bass Pro and Cabelas). A reader also left this tip on the TNWM Facebook page “Tomorrow, Santa will arrive by train in Independence, OR outside the library and free photos will be taken from 1-3”. I will look around first thing next week too, and see if we can start to build a better list for those of you in the Portland area too!
Anacortes has events every weekend, some and free, some are low cost, as well as some fundraising functions!
Thanks Robyn! Looks like the free santa photo event was tonight, and I did not get it added in time…but I have marked it down to be sure and add to next years list. Thanks for the tip!
We go to Molbaks Nursery every year. Not only is it festive and gorgeous, but you can take your OWN pictures with Santa for free!
Oh yes, I grew up going to Molbaks (and Whites) Raelyn – they are my moms 2 favorite nurseries. We love it there too!
Awesome site! Thank you so much :)
https://www.centralpiercefire.org/Calendar.aspx?Range=30&Type=ALL
In the Puyallup, Tacoma, Spanaway, Frederickson area – the local fire department – Central Pierce Fire & Rescue does free Santa photos every year. Just go to the Events and Activities in their website to find the times and locations. Centralpiercefire.org I tried to copy the link but I don’t know if it will work. There are cookies, juice, coffee and meeting with Santa.
Heaven Sent – 1200 S 324th Federal Way is also doing them for free. Sun. December 4 12-3pm.
Thanks Rori – do you have a link to their event (I dont see it on the Happenings page of their website)? Are they taking the photo and giving it to you, or do they have a santa on site you can use your own camera to take pictures with. If we can get these details we will add it to the list. Thanks so much!
Good to see this tradition is free for all the good boys and girls … thanks for the info!
Another free Santa photo oppertunity (same crew that does Motif Hotels event ) Will be doing one at Crowne Plaza Hotel Seattle Airport from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. Saturday December 16th
This event is also supporting Toys for Tots
Jim – Thank you for letting us know about the Santa pictures at Crowne Plaza. I didn’t read this post until it was too late. We have attended the Motif Hotel Santa pictures for the last 7 years in a row. My daughter was devastated last night when I told her we probably weren’t going to get Santa pictures this year (since Motif is taking a year off). Do you know how we can find out Santa’s schedule? We are really hoping for the Motif Santa. Any tips you can provide would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Jen – Jim’s comment was from last year, so not sure he will see your reply this year and wanted to send you a couple of more options we found in case they work for you guys this year (not the Motif Santa, but other free options besides Cabelas and Bass Pro)
https://www.facebook.com/events/209141113323199/ (free digital copy in Bothel area, tomorrow 12/19)
https://www.facebook.com/events/195243228095659/ (free printed and digital photo at Kona Kai Coffee in Tukwila Thursday, 12/20)
https://www.facebook.com/events/1058742157643333/ (free photos in Snohomish area with canned good food donation)
Hope that helps you guys get your picture this year. If we learn any more about the Motif santa we will let you know. Thanks!
Camas is in WA
Thanks for catching that Crystal, we will update the wording on that.
Anyone know of so.eshere to get a 1st christmas photo for my son thats open today?
Does anyone know a place that’ll do 1st christmas photos with santa on christmas day in either king,snohomish,or pierce counties??
We love the Santa in your photo. I think we ran into him at Motif in downtown Seattle. Do you know if we’ll be able to see him again this year?