planning your visit

Santa's Christmas schedule starts filling up in late summer.  To help assure Santa Don is part of your celebration, schedule as early as possible.  Times can usually be adjusted as needed.

When you bring out photos of your children with Santa to decorate your home at Christmas time, children will look carefully.  Is that Santa the same Santa in all your photos?  Having Santa Don bring the magic of Christmas to your home or event each year helps keep the magic alive!

• For both photo quality and so Santa can read his story, there should be plenty of light during your visit.  
• Santa will need a place to sit wide enough for himself and a child to sit together comfortably.
• Carefully choose where your visit will take place so that the background of the photos will look their best.
• If you keep your home on the warm side, please consider dropping the temperature a couple of degrees to help make Santa's authentic all wool suit not too hot.

Some families will gather together for a home visit to not only increase the joy but also to offset the cost of a Traditional Home Visit.  Children meeting Santa with their friends in a home they are comfortable in will also help you get the best possible pictures to capture the memory.

Whether your visit is in person or virtual, sharing some details about your children will add to the realism.  What's your Elf on the Shelf's name?  What interests do your children have?  Does your family have some special Christmas time traditions?

• Presents delivered at Traditional (in-person) Visit should be roughly the size of a shoe box.
• Each present should be wrapped with the name of the child written directly on the paper (tags fall off in Santa's bag).
• Santa's gfts would not be wrapped in the same paper as other presents under the tree.  Try to wrap presents from Santa in paper unlike any other presents.

• Clearly communicate Santa's role and expectations at your event.
• If there are treats or drinks served at events with children, please designate an "elf" to make sure little hands are clean before they see Santa.
• At all adult gatherings, Santa should have enough time to greet guests, pose for photos or selfies, and pass out presents or fulfill other Santa duties as requested.  Unless your event is come and go, a two hour appearance is usually adequate.
• Santa will not be responsible for groups of children while adults are involved in other activities.