Santa photo season starts next week. The first mall Santas open on Friday, November 13, 2026, and some of them take bookings only. CF Richmond Centre’s online tickets went on sale November 3.
Below is every Metro Vancouver Santa we could confirm for 2026 on an official page, with dates, prices and how to book. A few big malls haven’t posted their 2026 details yet; they’re listed at the bottom, and we’ll update this post when they do.
At a glance
| Where | 2026 dates | Cost | Booking | Sensory / pets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF Richmond Centre (Richmond) | Nov 13 – Dec 23 | $17.50 per booking, includes 5 digital photos | Reservation only, online | Sensitive Santa sessions Nov 29 – Dec 6 (before mall opens); no pet photos |
| Park Royal (West Vancouver) | Nov 18 – Dec 24 | Price not posted | Reservations recommended; walk-ins welcome | Not posted |
| The City of Lougheed (Burnaby) | Nov 20 – Dec 24 | Price not posted | Reservations encouraged; walk-ins welcome | Not posted |
| Oakridge Park (Vancouver) | Nov 20 – Dec 24 | Price not posted | Not posted | Not posted |
| Grouse Mountain, Peak of Christmas (North Vancouver) | Nov 20 – Dec 24 | Mountain admission (adult $89, child $49, ages 3–4 $5, 0–2 free) plus $5 per Santa photo | Buy admission ahead | Not posted |
| Noël Surrey, Santa’s Castle (Cloverdale) | Nov 27 – Dec 29 (closed Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 24–25) | Festival admission: adult from $24, youth/senior from $18, 6 and under free | Timed tickets online | Not posted |
Prices as posted on official pages on Nov 4, 2026. Mall photo prices are per booking unless noted; taxes may apply.
The details
CF Richmond Centre: Santa’s Mail Room
- Dates and hours: Fri Nov 13 – Wed Dec 23, 2026. Mon–Sat 11 am–7 pm, Sun 11 am–6 pm.
- Where: Old Navy Court, 6551 No. 3 Rd, Richmond.
- Cost: $17.50 per booking, required. Includes a visit of about 5 minutes and 5 digital photos sent by text or email on the spot. No prints at the set.
- Booking: Reservation only, online. Three families per 15-minute slot; group of up to 6 recommended. Full refund if you cancel 24+ hours ahead.
- Sensory: Sensitive Santa visits Nov 29 – Dec 6, before the mall opens, in partnership with the Autism Alliance of Canada.
- Pets: No pet photos this year.
- Extras: Purdys chocolate tastings and weekend giveaways. You may also take photos on your own phone during your slot.
- Book: https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/property/cf-richmond-centre/news-events/e/holiday-visits-with-santa-2026
Park Royal: The North Pole Picture Co.
- Dates: Nov 18 – Dec 24, 2026.
- Where: Park Royal South, ground level, Centre Court below the food court, West Vancouver.
- Cost: Not posted on the official page yet. Check when you book.
- Booking: Reservations recommended, walk-ins welcome.
- Info: https://northpolepictureco.com/locations/parkroyal/
The City of Lougheed: The North Pole Picture Co.
- Dates: Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026.
- Where: 9855 Austin Rd, Burnaby.
- Cost: Not posted yet.
- Booking: Reservations encouraged, walk-ins welcome. Questions: [email protected]
- Info: https://northpolepictureco.com/locations/lougheed/
Oakridge Park: Winter Wonderland
- Dates: Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026.
- What: An animated “gondola” ride up to Santa’s Village and a visit with Santa in a ski chalet, at the new Oakridge Park, 650 W 41st Ave, Vancouver (Oakridge–41st Ave Canada Line).
- Cost and booking: Not posted yet. Contact: [email protected], 604-269-2103.
- Info: https://www.oakridgepark.com/en-us/events/winter-wonderland
Grouse Mountain: Santa’s Workshop at the Peak of Christmas
- Dates: Nov 20 – Dec 24, 2026. Grouse has not posted Santa’s visiting hours.
- Cost: Santa’s Workshop is included with Mountain Admission (adult $89, youth $69, child $49, tot 3–4 $5, 0–2 free, family $229; lower resident rates). Santa photos are an extra $5 each at the Peak Chalet kiosks; proceeds go to Family Services of the North Shore.
- Getting there: The free Canada Place shuttle ended Oct 12, and no winter shuttle was posted.
- Info: https://www.grousemountain.com/peak-of-christmas
Noël Surrey with Bright Nights: Santa’s Castle
- Dates: Nov 27 – Dec 29, 2026 (closed Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 24–25).
- Where: Santa’s Snow Barn (indoor, heated) at Cloverdale Fairgrounds, 17905 62 Ave, Surrey.
- Cost: Santa’s Castle is part of festival admission: adult from $24, youth/senior from $18, kids 6 and under free. Parking included. The official site doesn’t say whether a pro photo costs extra, so plan on using your own phone.
- Booking: Timed admission tickets.
- Info: https://www.noelfestival.com/
Decision box
- Best fit: CF Richmond if you want a short, booked slot and a fixed price ($17.50 for 5 digital photos). Grouse or Noël if Santa is one part of a whole outing.
- Not a fit: Grouse if you only want the photo (admission for a family is $229 at the non-resident rate before the $5 photo). CF Richmond if you want a printed photo, a walk-in visit or a pet in the picture.
- Time: A booked mall visit is about 5 minutes; allow 30–45 minutes with parking and lineup. Grouse and Noël are half-evening outings.
- Cost (family of 2 adults + 2 kids): CF Richmond $17.50 total. Noël from $48 if both kids are 6 or under (adults only), more with older kids. Grouse $229 family admission (non-resident) + $5 per photo. Park Royal, Lougheed and Oakridge: not posted.
- Arrival: CF asks you to arrive at your slot time, not early; late arrivals may not be seen. Bring the confirmation email.
- Facilities: Malls have washrooms and food courts nearby. Noël’s Snow Barn adds indoor washrooms.
- Plan B: If CF Richmond sells out, check its page for cancellations, or go to Park Royal or Lougheed, which take walk-ins.
Booking tips
- Book early for weekends. CF Richmond says no extra slots will be added once it sells out.
- Go on a weekday. Walk-in lines at walk-in malls are usually shortest on weekdays before dinner.
- Need a quieter visit? Book a CF Richmond Sensitive Santa session (Nov 29 – Dec 6).
- Want a print? CF Richmond gives digital files only (good up to 8×10). Print them yourself.
- Check prices on the booking page at Park Royal, Lougheed and Oakridge. They weren’t posted when we wrote this.
Not announced yet (we’ll update)
As of Nov 4, these hadn’t posted 2026 dates or prices on their official pages:
- Metropolis at Metrotown (the page still shows last year’s Nov 12 start)
- Guildford Town Centre (the photo company lists Nov 13 – Dec 24 but no year)
- CF Pacific Centre (CF’s 2026 announcement mentions Santa only at Richmond Centre for booked visits)
- Coquitlam Centre
- Bass Pro Shops, Tsawwassen Mills (free 4×6 photo in past years; the mall page still shows 2025)
- Burnaby Village Museum Festive Village (Nov 25 – Jan 3; the 2026 page doesn’t mention Santa or Father Christmas)
- Grouse Breakfast with Santa (reservations “opening soon”)
- VanDusen Festival of Lights and Capilano Canyon Lights list no Santa visits for 2026. Canyon Lights has a North Pole photo spot with Santa’s sleigh and reindeer, but no Santa.
Sources (checked Nov 4, 2026)
- CF Richmond Centre, Visits with Santa 2026: https://shops.cadillacfairview.com/property/cf-richmond-centre/news-events/e/holiday-visits-with-santa-2026
- Cadillac Fairview 2026 holiday news release (Nov 2, 2026): https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/cadillac-fairview-brings-holiday-magic-and-cherished-traditions-to-cf-richmond-centre-and-cf-pacific-centre-882189571.html
- Park Royal (North Pole Picture Co.): https://northpolepictureco.com/locations/parkroyal/
- The City of Lougheed (North Pole Picture Co.): https://northpolepictureco.com/locations/lougheed/
- Oakridge Park Winter Wonderland: https://www.oakridgepark.com/en-us/events/winter-wonderland
- Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas: https://www.grousemountain.com/peak-of-christmas
- Noël Surrey: https://www.noelfestival.com/
- Burnaby Festive Village: https://www.burnaby.ca/recreation-and-arts/events/festive-village
- Capilano Canyon Lights: https://www.capbridge.com/events/canyon-lights/
- VanDusen Festival of Lights: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/festival-of-lights.aspx
