Below are seven Miami malls where you can meet Santa and the various Santa-related activities that each has planned for the holiday season.
Aventura Mall
19501 Biscayne Blvd., Aventura305-935-1110
aventuramall.com All are welcome at this Santa meet and greet, including your four-legged friends. They're good little boys and girls, too. Just make sure that you bring a camera, as there will be no professional photographer on hand. And don't forget to slide down Aventura's 93-foot tall slide while you're there just for kicks. Noon to 8 p.m. December 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22; and 3 to 8 p.m. December 6, 13, 16 to 20, 23, and 24. Admission is free.
Brickell City Centre
701 S. Miami Ave., Miami305-676-9480
brickellcitycentre.comThe Brickell mall typically offers a pretty snazzy backdrop for Santa pics, and this year will be no different. See for yourself when Santa stops by Brickell City Centre every weekend during the holiday season. To accommodate the demand, he'll also appear on December 23 and 24. 1 to 5 p.m. December 7, 8, 14, 15, and 21 through 24. Admission is free.
Santa will be joined by Rudolph and Frosty during his one appearance at CityPlace Doral.
CityPlace Doral photo
CityPlace Doral
8300 NW 36th St., Doral786-693-1849
cityplacedoral.com The folks at this Doral mall will host Santa only once during the holiday season, so you know it will make it count. Expect a tree lighting ceremony, train rides, storytime, and appearances by Rudolph and Frosty, in addition to Santa, at Winter Kiddos Land, presented by Kiddos Magazine. The little ones can meet Santa at the one-day event and tell him what they want for Christmas. And if they'd like to put it in writing for that more official feel, there will also be a Letters to Santa station. 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, December 7. Admission is free.
Dadeland Mall
7535 N. Kendall Dr., Miami305-665-6226
simon.com/dadeland-mall Santa will put in some serious hours at Dadeland. The Santa Photo Experience is open every day through Christmas Eve. You can also have breakfast with Jolly Old St. Nicholas on Saturday, December 7, before he leads a parade through the mall. And while the Kendall area is hardly the North Pole, Santa will feel right at home at Dadeland. The forecast through the holiday season calls for a 7 p.m. snowfall every night. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. December 6, 8 to 13, 15 to 20, and 22; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. December 7, 14, 21, and 23; and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 24. Admission is free, but professional photo packages cost $19.99 to $39.99; reservations are optional via whereissanta.com.
Dolphin Mall
11401 NW 12th St., Miami305-365-7446
shopdolphinmall.com Want a more exclusive encounter with Kris Kringle? The Signature Santa VIP Experience includes a 15-minute photo session with various poses and a personalized message from Santa. Walk-ins are also welcome daily, and the Magic Snowfall takes place at 7 p.m. almost nightly beginning November 27. Pet Night is scheduled for December 2 and 9. Noon to 7 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 8 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, December 23; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 24. Admission is free, but professional photo packages cost $19.99 to $39.99; reservations are optional via whereissanta.com.
Lincoln Road
Corner of Lincoln Road and Euclid Avenue305-600-0219
lincolnroad.com This is a shopping district rather than a traditional shopping mall, but either way, Santa will be on hand every weekend in his cabana. Tropical Santa, as he's called, will be wearing a flower shirt, shorts, and sandals because this is Miami Beach, after all. On November 29, Santa will take part in Lincoln Road's annual holiday parade. 7 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday; and 1 to 4 p.m. through December 24. Admission is free; reservations are optional via eventbrite.com.
Miami International Mall
1455 NW 107th Ave., Doral305-593-1775
simon.com/miami-international-mall You have three different ways to interact with Santa at this mall: There's Story Time with Santa on December 13, Breakfast with Santa on December 14, and the Santa Photo Experience, which takes place every day through Christmas Eve. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday through Monday, December 23, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 24. Admission is free, but professional photo packages cost $19.99 to $39.99; reservations are optional via whereissanta.com.
