Where To See Santa In Providence This Christmas Season

PROVIDENCE, RI — Santa Claus will be back in Providence 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. In Providence, kids have several chances:

• Photos with Santa at the Providence Place Mall
• Holiday Lights Spectacular at the Roger Williams Park Zoo on Friday nights

Santa arrived Nov. 12 at Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Santa’s Wonderland and will hold court through Christmas Eve. Reservations are encouraged.

Santa will be at Macy’s stores in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston and Orlando. Reservations are required.

Santa is coming to Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in Seattle and New York City.

JC Penney stores, including stores in Rhode Island, are offering professional portraits with Santa through Dec. 18.