Where can you see Santa Claus in Lexington and Central KY? Here’s some great events in Central KY! Click the event for more information. There are places that offer breakfast, brunch, train rides, visits, photos, and more.
Fayette Mall
Thursday, November 17 through Friday, December 24, 2022
Visit Santa in the Fayette Mall
- Thursday, November 17* through Friday, December 24
Santa’s Hours:
- Monday – Thursday: 11am – 7pm
- Friday – Saturday: 11am – 8pm
- Sunday: 12pm – 6pm
Special Hours Information:
- *Thursday, November 17 is the special Wake Up Santa Event: 5-6pm, meet & greet 6-8pm (Held in the Middle Wing, between Burlap & Birch and The Cheesecake Factory
- Thursday, November 24: CLOSED
- Saturday, December 24: 10am – 1pm, 2-4pm
Please note: Santa takes a break to feed the reindeer from 2pm to 3pm on Monday thru Saturday and 2:30pm to 3pm on Sunday.
Santa Special Events:
Please visit our Connect page to learn more about these and other great events.
- Santa’s Arrival & Wake Up Santa: November 17, 2022 5pm to 6pm
- Pet photos with Santa: November 21, November 28, December 5, December 12; from 4pm to 7pm
Santa at Lexington Green
November 25 – December 24, 2022
Celebrating Santa at Lexington Green for 15 years! Schedule your appointment today! Click HERE to schedule.
Cabela’s
November 5 – December 24, 2022
Starting Nov. 5th experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Wonderland at your local Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s!
Hours vary – check online when you make your reservation
Families are invited to Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s for a festive parade to kick off the Christmas season, featuring Santa as he returns to open Santa’s Wonderland! FREE 4 x 6 with your visit!
During your visit, families can mail their letter to Santa and receive free giveaways while supplies last. Families can also enjoy the amazing aquariums and wildlife displays found in every Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s store.
Hamburg Pavilion
Gingerbread Snap: Christmas Events: Free photos with Santa
Saturday, November 26th & Sunday, November 27th
Saturday, December 3rd & Sunday, December 4th
Saturday, December 10th & Sunday, December 11th
Saturday, December 17th & Sunday, December 18th
Saturdays: 10 AM – 2 PM
Sundays: 12 PM – 4 PM
Face painting on Saturdays: 10 AM – 1 PM
Horse & Carriage Rides on Sundays: 1 PM – 3 PM
Hamburg Pavilion’s event space: 2304 Sir Barton Way (next to Altar’d State and White House Black Market).
Black Santa at Julietta Market
Saturday, December 3, 2022 5 pm – 9 pm
Santa Photos at The Summit
Friday, November 25, 2022 – Christmas Eve 2022
Santa is back at The Summit, with David Hagood Photography, to spread holiday joy all season long, y’all! Visits and photos may be booked ahead of time below and walk-ins are more than welcome!
Book a reservation CLICK HERE
Hours:
Monday- Saturday: 11 AM – 7 PM
Sunday: 12 PM – 6 PM
Christmas Eve: 11 AM – 4 PM
Santa is onsite at The Summit daily and is located next to Cos Bar.
Sensory Friendly Visits
December 3 & 9, 2022 9 am – 11 am
Santa is back at The Summit, with David Hagood Photography, to spread holiday joy all season long, y’all! Please reserve sensory santa hours for children with sensory needs. Flashless photography and a more subdue environment will be provided. Should your child have a specific need, do not hesitate to let Santa or his team know. Book your Santa photo reservation here.
Friday Flurries
Fridays, December 2, 9, & 16 6 pm – 9 pm
There’s SNOW place like The Summit, especially when it’s a Winter Wonderland! Join us on The Green for Friday Flurries leading up to Christmas to enjoy faux snow, the picture-perfect holiday set-up and meet and greet with Santa and Elsa!
This event is FREE to attend and a photographer will be provided.
Santa Claus at Waveland Barn
Watch for 2022 Santa info
Meet Mrs. Claus on Saturday, December 10, 2022 and Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 10:30 am each day.
Take time this holiday season to visit Waveland to meet Santa’s wife, Mrs. Claus. Children will hear holiday stories, play games, dance the “Snowy Pokie” and sing songs. They will also write their letter to Santa and make a bag of magic reindeer food to take home for Rudolph’s Christmas Eve visit. This event is recommended for children ages 2 and up with at least one accompanying adult. Mrs. Claus will be available for pictures and will accept letters to pass on to Santa! Tickets are by reservation only, $15.00 per person. Call 859-272-3611 to book your tickets.
Kentucky Horse Park Southern Lights
November 25 – December 23, 2022 from 5:30-10:00 pm.
At the end of the route, visitors have the option to park and explore the Holiday Village (included in admission). The Holiday Village includes a visit with Santa, Santa’s North Pole Mailbox (where children can drop off their Christmas List), Animal Land, Mini Train ride, Bluegrass Miniature Train Display, and the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop. Food options will be available (see menu).
Bluegrass Railroad Museum
Saturdays, December 3rd, 20th, 2022
Sundays, December 4th, 11th 2022
Rides at 11 am & 2 pm
Once the train pulls out of the station for a 90 minute train ride, Santa visits with every child. Our Conductors and Car Hosts will help you pass the time while waiting for your turn with the jolly old elf.
Kentucky Railway Museum
North Pole Express
December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17 & 18, 2022
Join us for a nostalgic Christmas adventure aboard a historic train ride to pick up Santa! On our journey to the North Pole, enjoy a train excursion while listening to the sounds of the season. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa boards the train and travels with us on our way back to New Haven. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ultimate experience. Upon arriving back at the station, you have the opportunity to visit with Santa and take your child’s photo with him in the depot!
The entire family can enjoy a cookie and hot chocolate when they visit Claus’s Kitchen Caboose before the train excursion. (No food or drink other than bottled water is able to be taken on the train. Some of our coaches have been reupholstered, prompting this change.) We do recommend that you arrive an hour prior to the train departure time to enjoy your cookie and hot chocolate and the small activities we have available for the kids!
NEW IN 2022! You can now choose your own seats when purchasing tickets (see the photo gallery below for photos of the interior of each coach option). Follow the online purchasing prompt and choose your own seats from the seating map.
Santa Express
December 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 2022
Rides at Noon and 3 pm
All aboard the Santa Express! Bring the children on a nostalgic journey to meet Santa while listening to the sounds of the season. Visit with the man in the red suit while traveling through the Rolling Fork River Valley and enjoying a historic train excursion. For even more fun, the whole family is welcome to wear their pajamas!
The entire family can enjoy a cookie and hot chocolate when they visit Claus’s Kitchen before the train excursion! (No food or drink other than bottled water is able to be taken on the train. Some of our coaches have been reupholstered, prompting this change). We do recommend that you arrive an hour prior to the train departure time to enjoy your cookie and hot chocolate and the small activities we have available for the kids!
NEW IN 2022! You can now choose your own seats when purchasing tickets (see the photo gallery below for photos of the interior of each coach option). Follow the online purchasing prompt and choose your own seats from the seating map.
Hillenmeyer Christmas (Tates Creek Road in front of Lansdowne Shoppes)
No Santa in 2022.
Cincinnati Museum Center Holiday Junction
November 11, 2022 through January 2, 2023
Santa schedule varies
Daily hours vary
Of course, no holiday is complete without a visit to Santa. Santa makes his grand arrival on Friday, November 25. You can visit the jolly elf by his fireplace in the Public Landing adjacent to Holiday Junction. Santa will be busy preparing for the big day but will happily pause to speak with you from a safe distance.
Special Events
Cookies, Cocoa and Story Time with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Saturday, November 12, 2022 Noon – 2 pm
Sunday, November 13, 2022 Noon – 2 pm
Children 10 and under are free! Hosted by Pediatric Dentistry of Hamburg @pdohlexington https://kidsteethofky.com
Enjoy complimentary, pre-decorated cookies & a hot cocoa bar with our favorite featured guests, all the way from the North Pole, Santa & Mrs. Clause. Children can enjoy a Christmas story (donated by Lexington Public Library) read by Mrs. Clause. Photos with Santa can be taken with your own phone and/or camera.
Purchase tickets to the market here or at the door: bit.ly/HollyDayMarketTix
Santa Arrives by Train in Midway
Saturday, November 26, 2022 10 am
Santa will arrive to downtown Midway on an RJ Corman train at approximately 11:00am. Children will be able to visit with Santa until 1pm. There will be a vendor selling coffee and hot chocolate, Go-Go burger will be serving breakfast (cash only), Railroad Drug and the Black Type Coffee shop will be open for hot chocolate and coffee (card and cash accepted). This event is free!
Holiday Brunch with Santa at The Mansion at Griffin Gate
November 26th & 27th
December 3rd & 4th
December 10th & 11th
December 17th & 18th
Holiday Brunch with Santa at The Mansion returns every Saturday and Sunday November 26th to December 18th from 10AM to 2PM! 🎅
Enjoy a family-style brunch and take photos with Santa at The Mansion! Plus, each ticket is entered in a chance to win a free night stay at Griffin Gate! (Blackout dates apply) Join us on the following dates:
10AM – 2PM (Guests may arrive anytime!)
Tickets are purchased at the door ($10 plus the cost of breakfast – starting at $42). To get priority seating, purchase a reservation for each member of your party at www.GriffinGateEvents.com. The cost of reservation will be applied to your total bill. Our brunch menu is available to view on that website as well.
We look forward to hosting you again for Holiday Brunch with Santa at The Mansion!
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, December 3, 2022 8:30 am – 10 am
Breakfast with Santa, photo opportunities and a reading with Mrs. Claus
Sensory Santa at The Summit
Saturday, December 3 and December 9th, 2022 9 am – 11 am
Visit Santa at The Summit, with David Hagood Photography, to spread holiday joy all season long, y’all! Please reserve sensory Santa hours for children with sensory needs. Flashless photography and a more subdue environment will be provided. Should your child have a specific need, do not hesitate to let Santa or his team know. Book your Santa photo reservation here.
Visit Santa at the Distillery
Thursday, December 8, 2022 6 pm – 8 pm
Friday, December 9, 2022 6 pm – 8 pm
This event is complimentary to attend and open to the public.
The Ultimate Santa Experience
Saturday, December 10, 2022 12 pm – 4 pm *Select a one hour time slot online when you reserve your ticket
Bring your camera or phone and have your child get their picture with Santa, Elsa & the Grinch. This event is 100% FREE but we ask if you can bring a non-perishable donation to help support the God’s Pantry Food Bank! Enjoy our FREE Face Painting, FREE Games & Activities, Free Refreshments, and crafts! Registration is super limited to only 40 families per hour so save your spot ASAP! You must register to attend this event!
The Holiday Events Guide is HERE!
Find Santa, Music, Train Rides, Trees and more!!
