Where To See Santa Near Briarcliff, Pleasantville This Season

PLEASANTVILLE, NY — Santa Claus will be back around Briarcliff Manor and Pleasantville this holiday season after a couple of years of COVID-19 restrictions that made it difficult for kids to crawl up on his lap and make their case that they’ve been good boys and girls over the last year.

Visits and pictures with Santa are at the heart of many families’ holiday traditions, but the coronavirus pandemic gave them a lump of coal. Malls and other places took social distancing measures in both 2020 and 2021 to help contain the spread of the virus, moving Santa meet-ups largely online.

Virtual visits are still an option in many places, but there’s nothing quite like seeing jolly old St. Nick live and in person.

Santa will arrive on a fire truck at the Ossining Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 2 at Market Square. Performances start at 5:45 p.m. and the community sing starts at 7:10 p.m.

Santa is already at the Jefferson Valley Mall. Pre-register for a photo opp online and receive a free phone call from Santa to confirm. The mall is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Worth the trip

On Dec. 3 and 4, the Historical Society of Rockland County opens Jacob Blauvelt House for the annual St. Nicholas Day family event. The traditional Dutch celebration includes the saint and his beautiful horse.

You could have Breakfast with Santa at the Bear Mountain Inn, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 18. Seatings are at 8 and 11 a.m.; make reservations here.

Why not head west out Route 17M to Monroe? Santa and Mrs. Claus make a dramatic helicopter entrance at Museum Village Dec. 3. Meet them and shop for local crafts during a holiday stroll Dec. 10-11.

Santa is at the Danbury Fair Mall through Dec. 24. There's even one block of visits that's "sensory friendly" — 9-10:30 a.m. Dec. 4 — and Pet Night is 4-8 p.m. Dec. 5. A visit with Santa is always free and photo packages are available for purchase. Pre-booking your visit is recommended to help reduce wait time.

Other regional malls with Santa: The Westchester in White Plains, the Jefferson Valley Mall in Yorktown, the Palisades Center in West Nyack, and Ridge Hill and the Cross County Mall in Yonkers.

If you're going into NYC to see the tree and all the windows on 5th Avenue, remember Santa will of course be at Macy’s. Santa is also coming to Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in New York City.