🎅 Your Ultimate Guide to Seeing Santa in Vancouver, WA (December 2025)

The holiday season is jingling its way into Vancouver, WA…and Santa himself is sleighing straight from the North Pole! This December, the city turns into a winter wonderland, perfect for families (and even your four-legged elves) to meet the big guy, drop off wish lists, and snap picture-perfect holiday memories.

We’ve got both classic favorites (like the Vancouver Mall Santa) and one-off community events with both ticketed and free Santa sightings.

Here’s your ultimate, merry-and-bright guide to catching Santa in and around Vancouver, WA this December 2025:

Every Day

🎅 Elf Christmas Experience @ Vancouver Mall | Daily ($20 – $60)

Get ready to jingle all the way to the Vancouver Mall, where Santa Claus is making his seasonal “Elf‑approved” debut in H&M Court! From November 14th through December 24th, you can pop in almost every day for a picture with St. Nick!

Need a quieter meet-and-greet? Don’t miss the special Sensory-Friendly Santa Sunday on December 7th from 9:30AM – 10:30 AM: when the lights dim, the music softens, and it’s all calm, cozy holiday vibes.

Pet parents, perk up! There are even Pet Photo Nights on select Mondays (November 24th, December 1st & December 8th), so your fur babies can sit with Santa too (leashed or in a carrier, please).

Every Weekend

🥜 Visits with Santa @ NW Nut | 11AM – 3PM (FREE)

Saturdays and Sundays just got a whole lot merrier at NW Nut in Ridgefield, Washington! From 11AM – 3PM every weekend through December 21, join Santa and his elves for photos, holiday cheer, and sweet treats. Sip hot chocolate, browse the festive NW Nut gift shop, and make memories that’ll sleigh all season long!

🚂 Santa Train @ Chelatchie Prairie Railroad | Various Times ($16 – $22)

All aboard the Santa Train at Chelatchie Prairie Railroad! Hop on for a magical ride filled with holiday cheer, festive sights, and a special visit from Santa himself. Tickets range from $16 – $22, so grab your spot, sip some cocoa, and get ready for a train-load of holiday fun! Why choo-choo-choose anything else?!

Thursday, December 4th

🎅 Santa Pictures @ Floral Wishes and Gifts | 4:30PM – 7PM (FREE)

Pop into Floral Wishes and Gifts, where the poinsettias are popping, the twinkle lights are twinkling, and Santa is posing like he’s three peppermint mochas deep. It’s cozy, cute, and the perfect place to get a free photo with your littles (and a couple of flowers, right?!).

🎄 Tree Lighting @ City of Washougal | 5PM (FREE)

Washougal kicks off the holiday season with its annual Lighted Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting in downtown! Festivities begin at 5PM in Reflection Plaza with the Washougal High School Band, free cookies and hot cocoa, and photos with Santa (note: no pets in the photo area due to Santa’s allergies). The Lighted Parade starts at 6PM, followed by the Tree Lighting Ceremony, where Santa will lead the countdown and the Washougal High School Choir will close out the night with community carols.

Friday, December 5th

🎉 Party on the Plaza @ Providence Academy | 4PM – 8PM (FREE)

It’s the holiday block party of your dreams…and The Historic Trust will be unveiling the new Sacred Heart Plaza at the same time! There will be live music, glowing lights on the historic lawn, free hot cocoa and popcorn, and Santa pictures! Columbia Credit Union will be sponsoring a craft station for kiddos…what more could you want?!

🎄 Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration @ Battle Ground Event Center | 5:30PM (FREE)

Kick off the holiday cheer at Battle Ground’s Tree Lighting Celebration! Outdoor fun begins at 5:30PM with a performance by the high school choir, festive photo ops, and visits with Santa’s elves. At 6PM, Santa and Mrs. Claus make their grand entrance (courtesy of Fire District 3), followed by the tree lighting at 6:15PM. Then head inside for cocoa-fueled fun: take photos with the Clauses, write letters to Santa, color festive pages, and grab a free mug and hot chocolate thanks to Columbia Credit Union. It’s a merry mix of lights, music, and sugar…everything you need to sleigh the season!

🛍️ Camas Hometown Holidays and Tree Lighting @ City of Camas | 5PM (FREE)

Camas goes absolutely FULL Hallmark Movie for their annual Hometown Holidays and Tree Lighting event. There’s live reindeer, falling “snow,” carolers, cocoa stands, and a giant tree lighting that’ll make you conveniently forget every bad Camas roundabout you’ve ever driven through. Santa will pose for photos like a local celebrity…which, let’s be honest, he is.

Saturday, December 6th

🎄 Washougal Festival of Trees @ Hathaway Elementary | 9AM – 12PM (FREE)

Get ready to deck the halls at the Washougal Festival of Trees! Attendees will be able to bid on fully decorated Christmas trees, gift baskets, gift cards, and festive apparel. Snap holiday photos with Santa, and fuel up with a $5 breakfast whipped up by the Washougal High School Skills Culinary and Beyond Club. It’s a tree-mendous way to celebrate the season, support local students, and snag some seriously festive swag!

🍬 Candy Cane Holiday Bazaar @ Battle Ground | 9AM – 3PM (FREE)

All aboard the Candy Cane Express Holiday Bazaar! This family-friendly wonderland is packed with over 100 vendors, festive treats, a Little Shoppers Store, PTO bake sale, coffee, and of course, photos with Santa.

🎭 Hometown Celebration @ Old Liberty Theater | 10AM – 2PM (FREE)

Celebrate the season Ridgefield-style at the Hometown Celebration on Saturday, December 6, where holiday cheer is everywhere…and Santa is the star! Snap festive photos with Santa at the Old Liberty Theater from 10 AM – 2 PM. While you’re in town, explore the Holiday Food & Gift Vendor Marketplace with over 60 local vendors, hop on a complimentary hayride, admire the Circle of Trees, and enjoy Main Stage performances by local bands and choirs.

🐶 Santa Paws @ Lucido Global Team | 12PM – 4PM (FREE)

Dogs. In Santa hats. That’s the whole pitch. Bring your pup for free pet photos with Santa, who has fully accepted that half his December job (at least at this event) is wrangling goldendoodles.

🎁 Holiday Bazaar @ Ogden Elementary | 12PM – 4PM (FREE)

Get into the holiday spirit at the Ogden Elementary Holiday Bazaar…where Santa himself will be on hand for photos and festive fun! Shop, snap a pic with Santa, and support local…all in one merry stop!

🎄 Christmas Tree Lighting @ Central Park’s Town Square | 5PM (FREE)

Yacolt’s Tree Lighting is just pure small-town Christmas magic. Browse the outdoor vendor market from 2 PM- 7PM then sip free hot cocoa, cider, and cookies. Santa arrives at 5PM for photos, and by 6PM, the tree will be officially lit…how tree-mendous!

Sunday, December 7th

🍻 Merry Kolschmas @ 54-40 Brewing Co | 1:30PM (FREE)

Santa at a brewery? Oh, absolutely. Bring your festive spirit (and maybe your designated driver) to 54-40 Brewing Company as Santa mingles with adults, poses for photos, and pretends he doesn’t know what ho-ho-hops are (he totally does).

🥞 Santa Breakfast @ Twigs Bistro | 8:30AM – 11:30AM ($29 – $33)

Kick off the holidays with a merry morning at Twigs Bistro, where Santa will swing by each table with a magic key to ensure he can find your place on Christmas Eve (no chimney required). Dig into crème brûlée French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fresh fruit, and (because calories don’t count in December) a full chocolate fountain. Kids can write letters, color festive pages, and drop their wish lists straight into Santa’s official mailbox.

🥞 Brunch with Santa @ The Heathman Lodge | 8AM – 11AM ($22.50 – $45)

Santa’s sliding into the brunch buffet at The Heathman Lodge! Dig into a cozy holiday spread, pile your plate at the cookie station, craft your own ornaments, and snap pics with the jolly guy himself.

🎅 La Center Christmas Festival @ Downtown La Center | 3PM (FREE)

Downtown La Center goes all-out for Christmas: they have a full-on Christmas Festival, after all! Not only will Santa be on-site for photos at 3PM, there will also be a petting zoo, ornament decorating, a gingerbread house contest, food, vendors, and a 5K! Wrap it all up with a nativity, tree lighting, fireworks, and festive tunes from the choir and bands…because why settle for just one Christmas miracle when you can have them all in one day?

Monday, December 8th

🐾 Santa Paws Photos @ High Expectations Dog Training | 6PM ($10)

Get ready to unleash some holiday cheer at Santa Paws Photos! Bring your fur babies to High Expectations Dog Training for a tail-wagging photo session with Santa. For a $10 donation, your pups can paws, pose, and sleigh their cutest look…all while helping the West Columbia Gorge Humane Society. With snaps by Jess at Fuzzy Butt Pet Photos, it’s guaranteed to be a paws-itively good time!

Wednesday, December 10th

🎅 Photos with Santa @ Vice Beer | 6:30PM (FREE)

The man himself is making a hoppy stop! Bring your kiddos, doggos, and friends to sip, snap, and say hi to Santa at Vice Beer. They’ve got the lights and the vibes (a keg background?!). You BYOC (bring your own camera) so you can sleigh the perfect photo while enjoying a beer (or two) with Ol’ Saint Nick.

Saturday, December 13th

🎅 Holiday Pet Portraits with Santa @ ReTails Thrift Store | 11AM – 6PM ($10)

Bring your pet (literally any pet) for the most chaotic/adorable photos of the season at the ReTails Thrift Store Holiday Pet Portraits Session. Cats, dogs, lizards, maybe a ferret if Santa’s lucky. Proceeds benefit the Humane Society, so it’s cute and charitable. Appointments needed!

🛒 A Christmas Bazaar @ Clark College | 9AM – 4PM (FREE)

This 4th Annual Christmas Bazaar sleighs the season with handmade gifts, baked goods, and more. Grab a bite from the food vendors before you fa-la-la-fall over from shopping, then sip your free hot cocoa and candy canes. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on stage from 10AM – 1PM for free photos.

🐴 Peppermints & Ponies @ Silver Buckle Youth Equestrian Center | 12:30PM – 3:30PM (FREE)

Saddle up for some holiday magic at Silver Buckle Youth Equestrian Center’s Peppermints and Ponies, where Santa will trade his sleigh for a saddle (because why not?!) Meet the horses, snap photos with Santa and his four-hoofed helper, craft something festive, and sip hot chocolate while demolishing cookies.

Sunday, December 14th

🎅 Santa @ Ashwood Taps and Trucks | 4:30PM – 5:30PM (FREE)

Food carts, pints, hot chocolates, and Santa strolling between picnic tables like the world’s jolliest foodie (uh, he totally is). Grab dinner (and a photo with Santa) during this free event at Ashwood Taps and Trucks in Washougal.

🥞 Santa Breakfast @ Twigs Bistro | 8:30AM – 11:30AM ($29 – $33)

Kick off the holidays with a merry morning at Twigs Bistro, where Santa will swing by each table with a magic key to ensure he can find your place on Christmas Eve (no chimney required). Dig into crème brûlée French toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, fresh fruit, and (because calories don’t count in December) a full chocolate fountain. Kids can write letters, color festive pages, and drop their wish lists straight into Santa’s official mailbox.

Quick Tips for Your Santa Visit

Check Ahead: Always confirm the specific dates, times, and any reservation requirements on the venue’s official website before heading out. Event schedules are subject to change!

Time it Right: Santa’s appearances at community events are often limited to specific hours. Look up the schedule for the best chance to see him.

Be Prepared: Write your letter to Santa beforehand so you’re ready to hand it to him!

Have Fun: Remember, the magic of Christmas is in the memories you make. Enjoy the festive atmosphere…and make it a full day! Maybe go out for milkshakes at The Yard before or after Santa pictures?