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Santa Sightings - Photos, Visits, Breakfast, Calls & More

Best Places to Take Kids to See Santa in the 'Burgh

By Emily Papa, Macaroni KID Publisher November 21, 2023

Have you seen Santa in the Robinson area yet or are you still looking for the best place in Pittsburgh to take your Christmas photos with Santa? Or maybe you're looking for breakfast with Santa? From Virtual Santa visits to Santa on a boat to Santa on a firetruck to your traditional Mall Santa; we've got the list you've been looking for! Not only do we have the best places for you to spot Santa in Pittsburgh West this winter, but we'll spend the season updating this list with actual photos of the Santa you can expect from each location! Use the links below to quickly jump to what you are looking for!

Santa Sightings all Season Long | Local Events to see Santa | Breakfast with Santa Events all Season Long | Local Breakfast with Santa Events


Do you have a favorite Santa that isn't on our list or a photo that we can share? Let us know HERE or email emilyp@macaronikid.com. 


Santa Sightings in Pittsburgh West

Local Events to See Santa in the Pittsburgh West - Robinson area this Holiday Season:

November 11th
Tanger Tree Lighting

November 16th
Santa with Pets! Pictures & Shopping on Main Street
Santa's Arrival Parade @ Washington Crown Center

November 21st
Toddler Tuesday Santa's Toyland Experience @ The Mall at Robinson

November 22nd
Cookies with Santa @ The Mall at Robinson

November 26th
Paws and Claus @ The Mall at Robinson

November 30th
Paws and Claus @ The Mall at Robinson

December 1st
Canonsburg's Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration

December 2nd
Moon Lights Holiday Festival
Crafton Celebration of Lights
Carnegie Celebrates the Season
Pajamas With Santa @ Tanger
🎅🏻 Santa at the Sewickley Quarter

December 3rd
Sensitive Santa @ The Mall at Robinson
Christmas on the Farm @ Freedom Farms
Santa at the StationDecember 3, 2023

Find the most up-to-date local Santa sightings by using the 🎅🏻 emoji to search our event calendar!

Get photos with Santa and find Santa Sightings all Season Long in Robinson and surrounding areas:


Photo courtesy of The Mall at Robinson

Santa's Toyland Experience at The Mall at Robinson

November 17 – December 24 Hours: 11am-7pm Monday through Saturday, 11am-6pm, Sunday - some exclusions may apply. Please note Santa takes breaks to feed his reindeer daily - 2pm-3pm

Visit the Robinson Mall for Photos with Santa in Santa's Toyland Experience! Located in the lower level of The Mall at Robinson near Macy's, Santa is waiting to take holiday photos with the family. Quiet sessions, as well as Paws with Claus pet sessions are available, though pre-registration is required. shoprobinsonmall.com


Photos with Santa at Galleria of Mt. Lebanon

Mondays – Saturdays: noon-7pm, Sundays: noon to 5pm, Christmas Eve: 11am-5pm  

Santa will be visiting the Galleria of Mt. Lebanon from November 17th through December 24th during mall hours. Visit with Santa and have your picture taken with him. Santa does take a short break each day to feed his reindeer so if you head to the Galleria mid-day, make sure you check his schedule. Santa is located on Level 1 at Center Court and photo packages start at $39.99. galleriapgh.com


Where is Santa? at South Hills Village Mall

Photos available from November 10th - December 24th (closed on Thanksgiving)

Things to know before you go: Advanced reservations are strongly encouraged, and your child will receive a free phone call from Santa as an exclusive gift when you book online. Caring Santa will be at South Hills Village on December 3rd for children to visit Santa in a sensory friendly environment. simon.com


Santa Fun Cruise and Tour on the Gateway Clipper

Saturdays & Sundays in November & December

This special Pittsburgh holiday tradition includes a meet-and-greet with Santa Claus while enjoying a 2-hour cruise sailing the Three Rivers! Aboard this holiday Pittsburgh riverboat tour, the kids will enjoy a DJ dance party and a special treat from Santa Claus! Cost is $32/adults and $20 for children up to age 12. gatewayclipper.com


Photos with Santa at Washington Crown Center Mall

November 16th - December 24th 

Santa arrives on Thursday, November 16th @ 6 pm with an arrival parade! Visit daily until December 24th. Cost for photos is $39.99 December/$33.99 November. Bring your fur baby for photos with Santa on pet photos nights, November 20th and December 11th and visit Sensory Santa on Sunday, December 10th. shopwashingtoncrown.com




Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, 2015

Santa Trolley at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum

Saturdays & Sundays November 24th through December 17th

Pennsylvania Trolley Museum’s stockings are hung by the trolleys with care with the knowledge that Santa Claus will soon be there! While aboard a beautifully restored antique streetcar, visitors will get to meet Santa Claus and a few of his friends! Santa will be happy to have visitors take his picture, so make sure you remember to bring your camera. You can also stop by the museum’s large Lionel toy train layout, view the wonderful LEGO layout built by Steel City Lug, Pittsburgh Area’s Adult LEGO User Group. Children can do a holiday craft and everyone can enjoy complimentary hot chocolate and cookies. Tickets include a second festive trolley ride aboard the Yuletide Shuttle. For the first time, the Trolley Display Building will be open during Santa Trolley, so visitors can enjoy the rest of the collection as well!  Adults $20, Children $18. pa-trolley.org


Season's Greetings Saturdays at National Aviary

Saturdays in December from 10am - 3pm

Get your wish list and cameras ready… Santa and his penguin help are coming to the National Aviary! Saturdays before Christmas, visitors will have the opportunity to take photos with Santa AND a penguin! Bring your camera for a new twist on this fun holiday tradition. aviary.org


Saturdays with Santa at Heinz History Center

Saturdays starting November 18th from 10:30am - 1:30pm

Visit Santa this holiday season every Saturday at the History Center. Stop by the History Center’s A Very Merry Pittsburgh for a photo with Old Saint Nick sitting in an exact replica of the chair from Kaufmann’s Santaland, then explore artifacts that highlight the region’s holiday traditions. Santa visits are included with regular museum admission. heinzhistorycenter.org


Breakfast with Santa (and Lunch and Dinner with Santa) in Pittsburgh West

Local Breakfast with Santa Events in the Pittsburgh West - Robinson area this Holiday Season:

"Country Christmas" Breakfast @ Independence Twp. Community Center

Breakfast with Santa & Mrs Claus - Shady Elms

Breakfast with Santa @ Canon-McMillan Middle School

Breakfast with Santa @ Collier Community Center

Breakfast with Santa events happening all season long:




Breakfast and Lunch with Santa at The Hard Rock Cafe

Saturdays and Sundays December 2nd through 23rd 9am and 12:30pm 

The Hard Rock Cafe welcomes SANTA back for this Pittsburgh holiday tradition of breakfast and lunch with Santa at the Hard Rock Cafe. Don’t miss this special Christmas event as Santa spends special moments with every child and his list of the good little boys and girls during their fabulous buffet spread. We've attended in previous years and our kids LOVED talking to Santa in awe as he told them exactly what was on their wish lists! Adults 13 years old and up are $36.90 and children 12 years and under are $28.26. Book your reservations through Open Table. opentable.com/hard-rock-cafe-pittsburgh





Holiday Lights at Kennywood - Dinner with Santa 

Friday's, Saturday's, and Sunday's November 18th - December 23rd

This is an additional add-on to Holiday Lights tickets, but it is so worth it and quite possibly one of the most underrated Santa experiences in Pittsburgh!


Breakfast or Lunch with Santa at the Zoo

Saturdays & Sundays in December; Breakfast 9:30-11am and Lunch noon - 1:30

Enjoy a delicious breakfast or lunch buffet, meet ambassador animals, write a letter to Santa, and deliver it to him right at the Zoo! pittsburghzoo.org


More Santa Fun

PGH Santa Claus Visit in your home!

A live visit with Santa from the comfort and safety of your own home!  More Info: WEBSITE  |  FACEBOOK

Alexa Santa engagements:

Call Santa - enable this skill and say “Alexa, call Santa” and Alexa will connect you to Old St. Nick and all his friends at the North Pole.

Santa Claus - enable this skill and say “Alexa, start Santa Claus.” Alexa will ask your kid a series of questions to determine whether they are on the naughty or nice list!

Christmas Countdown - enable this skill and ask “Alexa, how many sleeps until Christmas?” to launch the Christmas Countdown Skill where she will tell you how many sleeps until Christmas and your kids will receive an update from Santa himself!

The Night Before Christmas - enable this skill and say “Alexa, Open The Night Before Christmas” to hear a three-minute version of the poem by Clement Clarke Moore


Get your FREE printable personalized letter from Santa HERE!


Where is your favorite place to visit with and get your picture taken with Santa in Robinson? Do you have a favorite Santa? If he's not on our list, please let us know! Email emilyp@macaronikid.com with SANTA in the subject line, and we'll update our list ASAP! If you have a photo you'd like to include for other parents to see Santa before the visit, we'd love to include that too!




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